Saturday, February 25, 2006 (Philippines)

Riot police swing their truncheons to disperse protesters who were holding a street protest yesterday to call for the ouster of President Arroyo. The President declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest of several military officers and civilians behind what she described as a coup attempt against her.(Afp photo) MANILA - Riot police violently dispersed thousands of anti-government protesters demanding the ouster of President Arroyo, soon after she declared a state of emergency yesterday. She said her administration had quashed a coup plot but that the country still faced “a clear threat” from “treasonous forces.” Clashes erupted as riot police used water cannons to disperse about 5,000 protesters defying a ban on rallying at the shrine to the 1986 “People Power” uprising. [full story]