Manila - One person was killed Tuesday and 21 were injured when a grenade exploded at a city hall in a southern Philippine city, officials said. The blast occurred as hundreds of people lined up to register as voters for next year's elections at the municipal government compound in Marawi City, 825 kilometres south of Manila.
Army brigade commander Brigadier General Rey Ardo said the grenade was lobbed from outside the compound's fence.
Attorney Nasib Yassin, a provincial election supervisor, said he believed the attack was aimed at disrupting the voter registration.
"It appears the crowd of voter registrants was the target of the blast," he said.
The registration continued after the explosion, but security was tightened at the city hall.
Filipinos are to elect a new president and other government officials on May 20.
Elections have traditionally been marred by violence in the Philippines despite additional gun restrictions imposed during the campaign and polling periods.
