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Thousands call for Arroyo to step down

Thousands of people marched in the Philippine capital yesterday to call for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as they marked the 20th anniversary of a four-day "people power" revolt that ousted the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The rallyists, which organizers estimated at up to 20,000, stopped traffic along the main EDSA highway in Manila where more than 1 million Filipinos converged in February 1986 to support soldiers who rebelled against Marcos.

A brief scuffle broke out when anti-riot policemen prevented the demonstrators, carrying banners reading "Oust Gloria" and "Gloria, get out!" from marching toward a monument that was built to commemorate the 1986 uprising.

The protesters toppled steel barricades set up by the police and started to throw sticks at the officers, who hit back with their truncheons and batons.

No one was injured, however, and leaders of the group were able to convince police officials to allow the crowd to complete their march to the People Power Monument.

Many groups calling for Arroyo's resignation have been attempting to repeat the uprising in February 1986 to force the president out of office since June when fresh allegations that she cheated in the May 2004 elections surfaced.

But most of the demonstrations against Arroyo have so far failed to match the size of the crowd in 1986.
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