MANILA, Feb. 20, (Xinhuanet) -- A loud explosion rocked the Philippine presidential palace on Monday but the cause was not immediately known and there were no known casualties, witnesses said.

    The blast was clearly heard around the Malacanang palace compound in central Manila.

    ABS-CBN television reported from the scene that a device appeared to have exploded inside a garbage bin outside one of the buildings in the compound. Enditem