Clinton vows Philippines support

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Hillary Clinton receives an award for strengthening relations between the US and the Philippines

Hillary Clinton has pledged continued US support for the Philippines in the fight against southern Islamist rebels.

In her first visit to the Philippines as US secretary of state, she also highlighted the US military's role in relief work after devastating typhoons.

About 600 US troops are in the country providing training and intelligence for the Philippine army fighting the separatist rebels.

She also visited a badly damaged high school and pledged $5m (£3m) in aid.

"I would just reiterate that the United States stands ready to assist our friends in the Philippines who are seeking to counter terrorism and the threat of extremism and we will be willing to support them in any way that is appropriate that they request," Mrs Clinton said after meeting Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo at the beginning of her two-day visit.

"We were very pleased that we can respond quickly with our military assets," she said, referring to joint US-Philippine rescue work during widespread floods caused by several back-to-back typhoons.

"Filipino and American doctors worked side-by-side to help thousands of flood victims. We saw our military forces working together to airlift thousands of tons of food, equipment and other vital cargo."

US troops will continue to provide assistance in the Philippines, she said.

Not all Filipinos want US troops in their country

Sources close to the secretary of state say Mrs Clinton will also take the opportunity to reject calls to renegotiate the stationing of US troops in the south.

Senators in the Philippines have called for an amendment to the Visiting Forces Agreement, a pact which allows American troops to be based in the country. The US says the soldiers are taking part in training.

But those in opposition to the agreement question the troops' true purpose in the south, where Islamist militants have been fighting for an independent homeland for decades.

Burma call

Mrs Clinton also used her visit to urge Burma's military leaders to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, applying pressure before the prime minister, Thein Sein, is expected to meet President Barack Obama at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Singapore on Sunday.

"We are trying to encourage Burma to conduct the kind of internal dialogue with all the stakeholders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, that could lead to there being fair, free and credible elections next year," she said.

Ms Suu Kyi has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention. Her house arrest was extended earlier this year by 18 months, meaning she can not participate in the elections.

Her National League for Democracy won elections in 1990 but the military never recognised the victory.