"The Inter-Parliamentary Union strongly condemns the bomb blast that took the lives of two people, including Mr. Wahab Akbar, a member of the Philippine House of Representatives. This is an utterly reprehensible act ", said the President of the IPU, Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini.

According to press reports, a powerful bomb hit part of the Philippine House of Representatives killing two people, among them Congressman Wahab Akbar, along with his driver, in the south wing of the chamber. Ten other people were injured.

The IPU sends its condolences to the Parliament of the Philippines and to the families of the victims of the blast.

---

Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 146 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
Other press releases	Version française de ce communiqué de presse	More information

---

Contact for additional information or interviews:

Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Phone: +41 22 919 41 16 Fax: +41 22 919 41 60 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org