Philippine troops brace for major protest

Hundreds of troops backed by tanks braced for a major protest yesterday demanding Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's resignation, after officials revealed an alleged plot to assassinate her by militants linked to al-Qaeda.

A rally in Makati, Manila's financial district, by a broad spectrum of anti-Arroyo forces, including left-wing and Roman Catholic Church-backed groups, was triggered by corruption allegations linking top officials and Arroyo's husband in a brewing kickbacks scandal.

``These are telling signs that the people are again roused and are ready to take political action,'' said Renato Reyes, secretary-general of the left-wing Bayan, one of the organizers of the rally.

The protest comes a day after the military said intelligence reports indicated communist rebels may infiltrate the rally. The military went on high alert after officials revealed an alleged plot by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and its Indonesia-based ally, Jemaah Islamiyah, to assassinate the president and attack embassies.

Captain Carlo Ferrer, spokesman for the military unit in charge of Manila security, said troops were on standby and more were available "depending on the situation."

The opposition dismissed the alleged plot as a means to discourage participation in the rally, and Reyes of Bayan called it part of the government's "scare tactics."

Political tensions heightened after former government consultant Rodolfo Lozada linked a former elections chief and Arroyo's husband to an allegedly overpriced US$330 million government broadband contract in Senate testimony. Both men denied the allegations.

Arroyo has survived three opposition impeachment bids and four attempted power grabs, mainly because of support from loyal generals and a strong political coalition during her seven years in power.

She has been accused of rigging the 2004 election and implicated by opposition politicians in a series of corruption scandals, along with family members. Arroyo rejected the allegations and vowed to finish the last two years of her term.

Coup rumors have swirled again.

In a statement from detention, army Brigadier General Danilo Lim, former navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes and other military officers linked to previous coup attempts voiced support for protesters.

"To all the leaders of the nation and our countrymen, join us in calling for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down. Let us continue the fight for truth and justice," it said.

Military chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon said on Thursday the assassination plot against Arroyo allegedly involved a sniper ready to attack when an opportunity arises.

Arroyo's planned visit to the Philippine Military Academy this weekend in the northern city of Baguio was canceled, and her remaining schedule was "under assessment," said Brigadier General Romeo Prestoza, head of the Presidential Security Group.

He said police uncovered the assassination plot last week, adding: "It's not only the president who is the target, but also other people ... and embassies."

National police chief Avelino Razon said that the plot to kill the president and to bomb embassies was contained in an Arabic document found in a parking lot by a security guard.