Protests greet U.S. troops in Philippines

[unhappycamper]

Protests greet U.S. troops in Philippines
By Teresa Cerojano - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 18, 2008 14:16:55 EST

MANILA, Philippines — Demonstrators calling for U.S. troops to withdraw from the Philippines protested the start of annual joint military exercises Monday, with hundreds of American troops heading to southern islands where al-Qaida-linked militants operate.

The two-week drills — called Balikatan, or “shoulder-to-shoulder” — bring together 6,000 U.S. and 2,000 Filipino troops at a time when Philippine forces are battling militants from the Abu Sayyaf and its allies from the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah terror network.

About 30 protesters from the left-wing coalition Bayan burned a U.S. flag and chanted “U.S. troops out now!” outside the gate of the military headquarters in Manila, where U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and top military officials led the opening ceremony.

Rallies also were held in at least four southern cities to demand U.S. troops leave because of alleged involvement in combat operations — prohibited by Philippine law — and human rights abuses, activists said.

In Cagayan de Oro, police estimated the crowd at 1,000, including priests and nuns who joined lawmakers and Muslim activists.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_Philippines_protests_080218/