Foreign office revises advice for Philippines

Following an explosion yesterday Mindanao, the second largest island of the Philippines, the Foreign Office has advised holidaymakers not to travel there.

In a statement the Foreign Office said: "We advise against all travel to Mindanao. On October 10th 2006, an explosion in a public market wounded at least two people and we believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning further attacks.

"We also advise against all travel to the Sulu archipelago including Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo, where there are ongoing military and police operations against insurgent groups."

However, current Foreign Office travel advice states that most of the 50,000 annual visits to the country are trouble-free, with British citizens' most common reasons for needing consular assistance things such as lost passports or visas running out.

Apart from the terrorist threat, holidaymakers should be aware of the threat of kidnapping throughout the Philippines.

"Boats travelling to and from offshore islands and dive sites are possible targets," the Foreign Office advised.