Joy at Estrada overthrow

Street protests succeeded where the law failed

People in the Philippines have been celebrating the swearing-in of Gloria Arroyo as the country's new president, after the incumbent, Joseph Estrada, was swept from power by a wave of popular protest.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators in the capital, Manila, greeted the news with wild jubilation, heralding it as another "people power" revolt, similar to the one that brought down Ferdinand Marcos 15 years ago.

I do not wish to be a factor that will prevent the restoration of unity and order in our civil society

Joseph Estrada

Having lost the support of the police and armed forces, Mr Estrada abandoned the presidential palace after saying he had "strong and serious doubts" over the legality of Mrs Arroyo's presidency.

As she was sworn in, the new president pledged to wipe out corruption and poverty, and restore dignity to the people of the Philippines.

Gunships

Mr Estrada spent his final hours as president confronted by mass protests outside the presidential palace, as military helicopter gunships hovered overhead.

Estrada as he leaves the presidential palace

After he refused to meet a deadline set by the protesters to resign, the supreme court stepped into the fray, declaring the presidency vacant.

The Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin, together with leading politicians and foreign diplomats joined Mrs Arroyo's emotional swearing in, held outdoors at a shrine for victims of the uprising that led to the fall of Ferdinand Marcos.

Fighting back tears, Mrs Arroyo lambasted the Philippine political system that Mr Estrada was accused of manipulating to gain millions of dollars in bribes from illegal gambling syndicates and excise taxes.

Estrada scandal

9 Oct: Former ally makes allegations

11 Oct: Cardinal Sin urges Estrada to quit

18 Oct: Impeachment motion filed

7 Dec: Corruption trial begins

16 Jan: Trial collapses

17 Jan: Street protests in Manila

19 Jan: Estrada calls snap election

20 Jan: Estrada abandons presidency

"Politics and political power, as practised in the Philippines, are among the roots of the inequities that characterise our national problem.

"To achieve reforms, we need to outgrow politics based on patronage and personality," she told the crowds.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Estrada, the former all-action film star, said he was leaving the presidential palace "in order to begin the healing process of our nation".

"I do not wish to be a factor that will prevent the restoration of unity and order in our civil society", the statement said.

No amnesty

Mr Estrada and his family then slipped out of a back exit to the palace, boarding a barge on the river. He is now reported to be at a private house in Manila.

Arroyo pledged to wipe out poverty and corruption

President Arroyo has ruled out an amnesty for Mr Estrada.

Her spokesman, Alex Magno, said he would be charged with economic plunder.

The final chapter of Mr Estrada's presidency began last Tuesday when prosecutors in his impeachment trial resigned after the senators acting as judges decided to bar the inspection of the president's bank accounts.

Cardinal Sin and other opposition figures stepped up their street protests, and on Friday, the head of the armed forces, General Angelo Reyes, told a mass rally in Manila that the army was joining the demonstrators.