Philippines moots anti-terrorist coalition

The Philippines says it wants to launch a regional anti-terrorist coalition to support any retaliatory strikes by the United States.

It says the grouping will also include Malaysia and Indonesia; all three countries are facing their own problems with radical Islamic groups.

The announcement came after a Philippine National Security Council meeting, at which the government said it would be willing to allow Washington to use ports in the Philippines - including the two former American bases of Clark Field and Subic Bay - as transit and staging points if required.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service