Arroyo vow after Manila coup bid

A brigadier general was among those arrested at the hotel

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has said the full force of the law will be brought against renegade soldiers who led Thursday's attempted coup.

The bid was ended after hundreds of troops stormed a luxury hotel in Manila that the two dozen rebels had occupied.

The mutinous soldiers were arrested after a day-long siege and led away from the Peninsula Hotel in handcuffs.

An overnight curfew was imposed to prevent further trouble and conduct "follow-up" measures, officials said.

See a map of where the coup attempt took place

Police said they expected to make further arrests of individuals believed to have supported the rebels.

They were also looking at a possible link between the action and planned protest rallies in the capital on Friday, officials said.

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The renegade troops barricaded themselves in the hotel after breaking out of court where they were standing trial over a failed 2003 mutiny.

In pictures: Manila siege Eyewitness: Coup bid Profile: Antonio Trillanes

They were calling for the overthrow of President Arroyo, citing complaints of alleged corruption and electoral fraud carried out under her administration.

Following their arrest, Mrs Arroyo made a brief televised statement, saying: "Just like before, we will impose the full force of the law strictly and without favour.

"The trial of the rebel soldiers will continue in accordance with the law."

She said fresh charges would be filed against the soldiers involved in the coup attempt.

The ringleaders of the rebel group marched to the Peninsula Hotel in the central business district of Makati early on Thursday and barricaded themselves in a room.

Most people have grown weary of attempts to overthrow the government Michael Whiting British Chamber of Commerce What drives Philippine plotters?

The rebels urged the army to join them in their uprising, a call that was not answered.

Guests were all evacuated unharmed but many journalists converged on the hotel, providing live coverage of the siege that was broadcast around the world.

They captured the moment when soldiers fired tear gas and stormed the building behind an armed personnel carrier that smashed its way through the front doors of the main entrance.

Soon after, a leader of the rebels, Senator Antonio Trillanes, said they were ending their action to save the lives of civilians and journalists inside the hotel.

He was arrested along with supporters and journalists - whose identities would be verified to ensure no rebels escaped disguised as reporters, the government said.

'Chaos and panic'

Leonie Anning, a British tourist in Manila, told the BBC News website that she was in a nearby shop when she was evacuated and rushed onto the street.

COUPS AND COUP ATTEMPTS Feb 1986 President Ferdinand Marcos steps down following a coup led by government ministers and army officers Aug 1987 Rebel officers occupy army headquarters, 53 people killed Dec 1989 6,000 troops stage a week-long mutiny during which the presidential palace is bombed Jan 2001 Gloria Arroyo comes to power after a popular church-backed revolt against her predecessor, Joseph Estrada July 2003 Nearly 300 soldiers seize control of a luxury apartment in Manila but surrender without a shot being fired Feb 2006 Failed plot by rebel soldiers to grab power during weekend reunion of military academy

"There were many armed soldiers... and not knowing what's going on, it was pretty scary," she said.

However, Michael Whiting, the vice-chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Manila, told the BBC News website that his Filipino colleagues seemed "pretty apathetic".

"Most people have grown weary of attempts to overthrow the government," he said.

The Philippines has a history of insurrection and popular revolt.

Mrs Arroyo, whose popularity has been dented by long-standing corruption allegations, has already survived at least two coup plots and three attempts to impeach her during her time in office.

Sen Trillanes, a navy lieutenant, was elected in May but has remained in military detention while on trial over a 2003 mutiny.

Then renegade troops took over a shopping centre for a day, until they were overpowered by security forces.

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