Emergency declared in Philippines

Emergency declared in Philippines by President Gloria Arroyo reports BBC ... BBC World Service had real time reports. P & O had re-directed Aurora cruise ship from Darwin to Hong Kong missing out Manila so they must have been alert to the rumours circulating this week of a plot against President Arroyo.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has declared an emergency after the army said it had foiled a coup plot involving security forces commanders.

Mrs Arroyo said she had given army and police extraordinary powers.

Security was tightened this week amid rumours of a coup timed to coincide with the anniversary of a 1986 revolt against President Ferdinand Marcos. CRowds had assembled to clebrate coup in Manila.

It goes without saying that the Bush administration will follow tradition, and pull out all the stops to maintain US control over its most precious Pacific foothold, including doing what is necessary to prevent a popular revolt in the Philippines that could threaten US interests.

Meanwhile Fighting on the island of Jolo intensified in February 2005 when between 4,000 and 5,000 Philippine troops clashed with around 800 Islamist militants from the Abu Sayyaf group, along with followers of Nur Misuari. Up to 12,000 people were thought to have fled the fighting.

One civilian was killed and more than two dozen people were wounded in a bomb attack outside a Philippine military base in the southern island of Jolo, where US and Filipino troops are currently conducting joint antiterrorism drill, officials said.

The attack late last Saturday targeted a karaoke bar just several meters away from the military base, where more than 100 US troops are encamped.

There were no reports of US casualties, said US military spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Zimmer. "All Americans are accounted for," he told the Zamboanga Journal.

US troops are restricted to the camp during the month long training, dubbed as Balikatan 2006.