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Arroyo vow after Manila coup bid Arroyo vow after Manila coup bid
(about 6 hours later)
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has said the full force of the law will be brought against renegade soldiers who launched an attempted coup. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has said the full force of the law will be brought against renegade soldiers who led Thursday's attempted coup.
The bid was ended after hundreds of troops stormed a luxury hotel in Manila that the two dozen rebels had occupied.The bid was ended after hundreds of troops stormed a luxury hotel in Manila that the two dozen rebels had occupied.
The mutinous soldiers were arrested after a day-long siege and led away from the Peninsula Hotel in handcuffs.The mutinous soldiers were arrested after a day-long siege and led away from the Peninsula Hotel in handcuffs.
The government has imposed a midnight (1600GMT) to 0500 curfew on Manila in order to conduct "follow-up" measures. An overnight curfew was imposed to prevent further trouble and conduct "follow-up" measures, officials said.
The renegade troops had barricaded themselves in the hotel after breaking out of court where they were standing trial over a failed 2003 mutiny.
They were calling for the overthrow of President Arroyo.
See a map of where the coup attempt took place See a map of where the coup attempt took place
Police said they expected to make further arrests of individuals believed to have supported the rebels.
They were also looking at a possible link between the action and planned protest rallies in the capital on Friday, officials said.
Live coverageLive coverage
Mrs Arroyo made a brief televised statement after the mutineers had been arrested, saying: "Just like before, we will impose the full force of the law strictly and without favour. The renegade troops barricaded themselves in the hotel after breaking out of court where they were standing trial over a failed 2003 mutiny.
"The trial of the rebel soldiers will continue in accordance with the law."
In pictures: Manila siege Eyewitness: Coup bid Profile: Antonio TrillanesIn pictures: Manila siege Eyewitness: Coup bid Profile: Antonio Trillanes
They were calling for the overthrow of President Arroyo, citing complaints of alleged corruption and electoral fraud carried out under her administration.
Following their arrest, Mrs Arroyo made a brief televised statement, saying: "Just like before, we will impose the full force of the law strictly and without favour.
"The trial of the rebel soldiers will continue in accordance with the law."
She said fresh charges would be filed against the soldiers involved in the coup attempt.She said fresh charges would be filed against the soldiers involved in the coup attempt.
Interior minister Ronaldo Puno said the curfew would allow the authorities to conduct "follow-up" security operations. The ringleaders of the rebel group marched to the Peninsula Hotel in the central business district of Makati early on Thursday and barricaded themselves in a room.
During the hotel assault, about 1,500 government troops had surrounded the building before an armoured personnel carrier smashed through the main entrance.
Tear gas and shots were fired, but there were no reports of casualties.
The BBC's Michael Barker at the scene said the lobby was covered with shattered glass and there were Christmas decorations on the floor.
Scores of journalists converged on the hotel after the rebel soldiers took it over, providing live coverage of the siege that was broadcast around the world.
Most people have grown weary of attempts to overthrow the government Michael WhitingBritish Chamber of Commerce What drives Philippine plotters?Most people have grown weary of attempts to overthrow the government Michael WhitingBritish Chamber of Commerce What drives Philippine plotters?
The rebels urged the army to join them in their uprising, a call that was not answered.The rebels urged the army to join them in their uprising, a call that was not answered.
In a website statement, the organisers of the botched coup attempt said the country was facing "a crisis of extreme proportions" and that Mrs Arroyo was a "bogus president". Guests were all evacuated unharmed but many journalists converged on the hotel, providing live coverage of the siege that was broadcast around the world.
"We have today withdrawn our support from Mrs Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in order to end her unconstitutional and illegal occupation of the presidency," one of the leaders, Brig Gen Danilo Lim, wrote. They captured the moment when soldiers fired tear gas and stormed the building behind an armed personnel carrier that smashed its way through the front doors of the main entrance.
As government troops stormed the hotel, a leader of the rebels, Senator Antonio Trillanes, said they were ending their action to save the lives of civilians and journalists inside the hotel. Soon after, a leader of the rebels, Senator Antonio Trillanes, said they were ending their action to save the lives of civilians and journalists inside the hotel.
He was arrested along with about two dozen soldiers. Dozens of journalists were also detained - the government said their identities would be verified to ensure no rebels had escaped disguised as reporters. He was arrested along with supporters and journalists - whose identities would be verified to ensure no rebels escaped disguised as reporters, the government said.
'Chaos and panic''Chaos and panic'
Leonie Anning, a British tourist in Manila, told the BBC News website that she was in a nearby shop when she was evacuated and rushed onto the street.Leonie Anning, a British tourist in Manila, told the BBC News website that she was in a nearby shop when she was evacuated and rushed onto the street.
COUPS AND COUP ATTEMPTS Feb 1986 President Ferdinand Marcos steps down following a coup led by government ministers and army officersAug 1987Rebel officers occupy army headquarters, 53 people killedDec 19896,000 troops stage a week-long mutiny during which the presidential palace is bombedJan 2001Gloria Arroyo comes to power after a popular church-backed revolt against her predecessor, Joseph EstradaJuly 2003 Nearly 300 soldiers seize control of a luxury apartment in Manila but surrender without a shot being fired Feb 2006Failed plot by rebel soldiers to grab power during weekend reunion of military academyCOUPS AND COUP ATTEMPTS Feb 1986 President Ferdinand Marcos steps down following a coup led by government ministers and army officersAug 1987Rebel officers occupy army headquarters, 53 people killedDec 19896,000 troops stage a week-long mutiny during which the presidential palace is bombedJan 2001Gloria Arroyo comes to power after a popular church-backed revolt against her predecessor, Joseph EstradaJuly 2003 Nearly 300 soldiers seize control of a luxury apartment in Manila but surrender without a shot being fired Feb 2006Failed plot by rebel soldiers to grab power during weekend reunion of military academy
"There were many armed soldiers... and not knowing what's going on, it was pretty scary," she said."There were many armed soldiers... and not knowing what's going on, it was pretty scary," she said.
However, Michael Whiting, the vice-chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Manila, told the BBC News website that his Filipino colleagues seemed "pretty apathetic".However, Michael Whiting, the vice-chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Manila, told the BBC News website that his Filipino colleagues seemed "pretty apathetic".
"Most people have grown weary of attempts to overthrow the government," he said."Most people have grown weary of attempts to overthrow the government," he said.
The Philippines has a history of insurrection and popular revolt.The Philippines has a history of insurrection and popular revolt.
Mrs Arroyo, whose popularity has been dented by long-standing corruption allegations, has already survived at least two coup plots and three attempts to impeach her during her time in office.Mrs Arroyo, whose popularity has been dented by long-standing corruption allegations, has already survived at least two coup plots and three attempts to impeach her during her time in office.
Sen Trillanes, a navy lieutenant, was elected in May but has remained in military detention while on trial over a 2003 mutiny.Sen Trillanes, a navy lieutenant, was elected in May but has remained in military detention while on trial over a 2003 mutiny.
Then renegade troops took over a shopping centre for a day, until they were overpowered by security forces.Then renegade troops took over a shopping centre for a day, until they were overpowered by security forces.
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