Manila: The head of the world's largest body of Muslim-majority countries has strongly condemned the twin bombings of a Catholic church in the Philippines that killed 20 people and wounded more than 80.
The general secretary of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Yousef al-Othaimeen has also expressed his "deep indignation" at Sunday's terrorist attack.
Police investigators examine the site after the bombings in Jolo, Philippines.Credit:AP
He says the OIC firmly rejected all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism, whatever their sources or motives.
Pope Francis also condemned the bombings.
The explosions also wounded 81 in one of the deadliest attacks in recent years in a region long plagued by instability.
Francis, speaking at a Panama hospice for AIDS sufferers on the last day of a trip there, condemned the violence that "causes more mourning in the Christian community".
"I pray for the dead and the injured. May the Lord, prince of peace, convert the hearts of the violent ones," the Pope said on Sunday.
A soldier views the site inside a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province in the southern Philippines after two bombs exploded on Sunday.Credit:Wesmincom/AP
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but police suspect the bombings were the work of Abu Sayyaf, a militant group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and is notorious for its bombings and brutality.
The first explosion went off inside the cathedral on Jolo Island in Sulu Province, and was followed by a second blast outside, which was detonated as security forces raced to the scene, officials said.
The blasts came six days after a referendum on autonomy for the mainly Muslim region returned an overwhelming "yes" vote.
Police investigators and soldiers attend the scene in Jolo on Sunday.Credit:AP
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Salvador Panelo said the attackers would be destroyed.
"The enemies of the state have boldly challenged the capability of the government to secure the safety of the citizenry in that region," Panelo said.
"The armed forces of the Philippines will rise to the challenge and crush these godless criminals."
Pictures distributed by the military of the inside of the Jolo church showed several rows of wooden pews destroyed, with debris strewn across a blackened floor.
The attack followed Friday's announcement that the region, a mainly Muslim part of the predominantly Catholic Philippines, had ratified the creation of an autonomous area called Bangsamoro, with 85 per cent of voters behind it.
Although Sulu was among only a few areas that rejected autonomy, it will still be part of the new entity when it is fully formed in 2022.
Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana called the attack a "dastardly act" and urged the local population to co-operate and "deny terrorism any victory".
National Security Adviser, Hermogenes Esperon, called those responsible "mass murderers" and "extremist criminals".
"We will not allow them to spoil the preference of the people for peace," he added.
Civilians bore the brunt of the attack, which also killed five soldiers. Police lowered the death toll from 27 to 20, after discovering duplications in initial records.
AP, Reuters
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