Philippines In State Of Emergency

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of emergency Friday, saying she had quashed a coup plot, and the military confined troops to their camps to keep them from joining protests against her rule.

Former President Corazon Aquino led a march at Manila's financial district, calling for Arroyo's resignation despite a ban on rallies. Riot police later moved in to clear out marchers who had lingered after dark and ignored a deadline to disperse.

Arroyo said that even though the military had foiled the threat by some elements of the military, there were ongoing attempts by the political opposition to bring down her government, reports CBS News' Gaby Tabunar (audio). Another danger, the president warned, was that the extreme left is joining the anti-government moves.

The presidential palace has been heavily barricaded, and roads leading to that complex have been closed.

Her declaration came as thousands of people chanting anti-Arroyo slogans began massing at different points in Manila, defying a ban against demonstrations. The critical area appeared to be a shrine outside Manila that was the scene of the 1986 "People Power" revolt that unseated dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Former President Corazon Aquino led a march Friday at Manila's financial district, despite a ban on rallies, calling for the resignation of Arroyo.

Riot police later moved in with a show of force and peacefully cleared out marchers who had lingered after dark and ignored a deadline to disperse.

Earlier, riot police violently dispersed thousands of anti-government protesters demanding Arroyo's ouster soon after she declared a state of emergency Friday amid what the government said was a failed coup plot.

At least 25 protesters were taken into custody, including a prominent political commentator and leaders of more than 5,000 leftist protesters.

Emergency rule allows arrests without warrants, and detention of a suspect can be extended without charges being filed, reports Tabunar.

"Let us not allow anyone to grab our democracy from us again," Aquino told the rally in the Makati district. "Let us all help to end the dictatorship, let us all help to bring back democracy."

Aquino, a close Arroyo ally who has turned against her, reiterated her call for Arroyo's resignation to loud cheers from the crowd, estimated by police at 5,000.

Dressed in her trademark yellow protest dress, she led the march to the statue of her late husband, opposition Sen. Benigno Aquino, whose 1983 assassination sparked massive protests that led to the 1986 "people power" revolt, which ended Marcos' rule.

The rally was joined by left-wing activists, some raising clenched fists and carrying multicolored steamers. They clogged Makati's main avenue Ayala, where confetti was thrown from buildings.

Aquino earlier condemned Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency, saying: "This is really shocking. ... It's really a pity if we lose our democracy again."

"We cannot just keep quiet because that is what happened during martial law. Our dictator then believed that he can do anything to keep himself in power," she said, referring to Marcos.

During the violent protest at EDSA, demonstrators tried to remove iron grills barricading the highway to join their leaders, who were negotiating with police officers. Police charged the protesters with fiberglass shields and clubs.

The protesters threw stones and sticks at police, and security forces responded by charging and spraying the crowd with a high-pressure fire hose. TV footage showed police taking turns using sticks to hit a bloodied protester who fell on a sidewalk.

The protesters scattered with police in pursuit.

Opposition groups and even Arroyo's allies feared a crackdown and lamented the imposition of tough policies at a time when Filipinos were celebrating the return of democracy 20 years ago.

Detained ex-President Joseph Estrada in a statement deplored the dispersal of peaceful demonstrations, calling Arroyo's declaration "no different from martial law."

Rep. Teodoro Casino, leader of a left-wing party that joined Aquino's rally, said the declaration will likely be used to crack down on opposition forces.

Despite new limits on public demonstrations, he said left-wing groups would continue protests against Arroyo. He urged disgruntled troops to withdraw support from the president and join their protests instead of considering a potentially bloody coup.

Imposing limits on civil liberties, like public protests, was disheartening, he said.

"That's the most ironic part. It's the 20th anniversary of the fall of the dictatorship, then on the very same day you come up with draconian measures," Casino said. "It's indicative of where the government is going — iron-handed rule."

Administration senators Mar Roxas, Pia Cayetano and Francis Pangilinan also expressed alarm over the state of emergency and demanded it be revoked.