Manila  - The European Union on Sunday announced an additional 2.5-million-euro assistance to thousands of civilians displaced by hostilities in the southern Philippines.

The new funding is on top of 7 million euros approved in October for short-term humanitarian assistance and long-term rehabilitation aid in the southern region of Mindanao.

Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of the Delegation of the European Commission in the Philippines, said the additional aid would ensure continued care for the displaced.

Iligan City, Philippines  - A second unexploded bomb was recovered in a southern Philippine city on Sunday, three days after twin explosions killed three people, police said.

The explosive, made from an 81-millimetre mortar shell, was found in a garbage dump in Iligan City, 810 kilometres south of Manila, police said.

It was the second unexploded bomb found in the city since two shopping centres were bombed on Thursday, killing three people and injured scores.

Iligan City, Philippines  - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday visited the people injured in two bombings in a southern Philippine city.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said Arroyo went to Iligan City in Lanao del Norte province, 855 kilometres south of Manila, and visited the hospital where 41 people wounded in the attacks were being treated.

Arroyo also visited the funeral home where two fatalities from the twin bombings were taken.

Iligan City, Philippines  - Three people were killed Thursday and 16 were injured when two homemade bombs exploded in two shopping centres in a southern Philippine city, a local official said.

The bombings occurred 15 minutes apart shortly after lunch in the Jerry Shopping Center and Uni City mall in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte province, 855 kilometres south of Manila, Mayor Lawrence Cruz said.

Manila - The death toll in the sinking of a passenger vessel off the northern Philippines has risen to 46 while eight people remained missing, the coast guard and police said Thursday.

Forty-five people survived the accident Sunday off the coast of Ballesteros town in Cagayan province, 420 kilometres north of Manila.

The MB Maejan was already near the dock of nearby Aparri town when it capsized when huge waves battered it and strong currents dragged it away.

The coast guard said search operations for the eight missing were continuing despite bad weather.

Local police said one more body was recovered off the coast of nearby Sanchez Mira town, bringing the death toll to 46.

Zamboanga City, Philippines - Two soldiers and three Muslim secessionist rebels were killed in a clash in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokeswoman said Thursday.

The clash erupted when army troops on combat patrol encountered about 30 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas late Tuesday in Piagapo town in Lanao del Sur province, 855 kilometres south of Manila, First Lieutenant Esteffani Cacho said.

Cacho said civilians saw at least five more wounded rebels being carried by their comrades fleeing from the battle zone.