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Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Police disperse anti-Arroyo protesters near palace (1:40 p.m.)
MANILA -- Riot police armed with shields pushed back dozens of left-wing activists who tried to march to the presidential palace Tuesday to demand President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's ouster, police said.
At least seven protesters were arrested during the brief melee, including one who was seen on TV footage being carried away by policemen. Several others were hurt, protest leaders and an AP photographer at the scene said.
As they marched from a Protestant church toward the Malacaņang palace, the protesters yelled, "Oust Arroyo, burden to the masses!" They denounced a new tough policy by Arroyo that empowered the police to break up protests when organizers lack a permit and when authorities suspect they could become rowdy.
A phalanx of riot policemen forced the protesters back with fiberglass shields, causing some of them to fall to the ground.
"We will continue to defy the illegal orders of Malacaņang. We will continue to assert our right to free speech and assembly," protest leader Carol Araullo said.
Arroyo has been accused of vote-rigging and other crimes but has denied the charges and refused to step down.
The House of Representatives, which is dominated by Arroyo allies, threw out all of three impeachment charges against her last month.
But the President's opponents have continued to demand her ouster and threatened to intensify street protests. (AP) |
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