Philippine Police Break Up Student Protest [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Philippine Police Break Up Student Protest

By OLIVER TEVES
Associated Press Writer

October 13, 2005, 1:45 PM EDT


MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine police fired jets of water and used anti-riot shields to break up a march Thursday by about 300 left-wing student activists demanding the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Reporters and photographers saw officers yank away at least eight water-drenched protesters, but police said no charges were immediately filed against them.

Hundreds of protesters, testing the limits of a new tough policy barring rallies without permits, have tried in recent days to march toward the presidential palace and dozens have been injured while being dispersed by police.

The street protests followed the defeat in late August of an opposition bid to impeach Arroyo on vote-rigging allegations. Arroyo has denied involvement in poll fraud and accused her opponents of trying to grab power.
(snip/...)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-philippines-protest,0,2741622.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines