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Protesters call on Arroyo to quit | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Thousands of protesters have taken part in a rally in the Philippine capital, Manila, to demand the resignation of President Gloria Arroyo. | |
Security was tight for the rally in the Makati financial district, with troops and armoured vehicles on stand by. | |
The protesters want Ms Arroyo to step down over claims her husband and an ally sought kickbacks linked to a government deal with a Chinese firm. | The protesters want Ms Arroyo to step down over claims her husband and an ally sought kickbacks linked to a government deal with a Chinese firm. |
Both men deny the allegations and the deal has been cancelled. | Both men deny the allegations and the deal has been cancelled. |
In Makati, crowds of marchers carried banners urging the president to resign, despite warnings from the military of possible trouble at the rally. | |
On Thursday, army chiefs said communist rebels could try to infiltrate the crowd - a warning opposition leaders dismissed as justification for increased security. | |
The military also said on Thursday that it had uncovered details of a plot by al-Qaeda-linked militants to assassinate Ms Arroyo, but said this did not appear to be related to the rally. | |
Investigation | |
The corruption row - relating to a multi-million dollar deal for a government broadband network - has been rumbling on for several months. | The corruption row - relating to a multi-million dollar deal for a government broadband network - has been rumbling on for several months. |
Ms Arroyo cancelled the deal because of the corruption allegations, which are now being investigated by the Senate. | Ms Arroyo cancelled the deal because of the corruption allegations, which are now being investigated by the Senate. |
Speaking earlier in the day to business leaders, the president promised a "thorough and transparent" probe. | |
"We do not want to tolerate corruption," she said. | |
"There is no room in the development of our country for wasting money on corruption when so much remains to be done to invest in the nation." |
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