- AP Police train their fire hose at protesters as the latter try to force their way closer to the U.S. Embassy for a rally against next week's visit of U.S. President Barack Obama, in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday,
- AP Police and protesters clash on Wednesday in Manila, Philippines as the latter try to force their way closer to the U.S. Embassy for a rally against next week's visit of U.S. President Barack Obama.
Police armed with truncheons, shields and a fire hose clashed on
Wednesday with more than 100 left-wing activists who rallied at the U.S.
Embassy in Manila to oppose a visit by President Barack Obama and an
expected security pact that would increase the American military
presence in the Philippines.
Riot policemen blocked the flag-waving activists near the heavily
fortified embassy compound but the protesters slipped past them,
sparking a brief scuffle in view of motorists stuck in traffic.
The police sprayed water on the protesters from a fire truck to push
them away. A police officer was punched in the face in the melee but no
arrests were made. Some of the protesters carried paper U.S. flags with
the message - “Obama, not welcome.”
Mr. Obama arrives in Manila on Monday for an overnight stop after
visiting Japan, South Korea and Malaysia on an Asian trip in which he is
expected to reassure allied nations enmeshed in long-running
territorial disputes with an increasingly assertive China.
The United States and the Philippines, which are treaty allies, have
been scrambling to overcome differences to finalize a new security
accord in time for Mr. Obama’s visit.
The accord would allow more U.S. troops, aircraft and ships to be
temporarily stationed in selected Philippine military camps as a
counterweight to China and as a standby disaster-response force. About
500 American soldiers have been based in the southern Philippines since
2002 to provide anti-terrorism training and intelligence to Filipino
troops battling al-Qaeda-linked militants.
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