South Luzon militants clash with cops at US Embassy

MANILA, Philippines — An undetermined number of militant protesters from Southern Luzon were reported hurt after they clashed with anti-riot police near the United States Embassy in Manila Friday morning. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported the militants, who arrived in Manila after a three-day trip, were calling for the junking of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the scrapping of the ongoing RP-US Balikatan joint military exercises. The militants, who included members of Gabriela and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), were marching along T.M. Kalaw Street when the Manila Police District's anti-riot police blocked them. A shoving match followed the confrontation. Traffic in the area was snarled as police chased militants running away from the scene. Following the confrontation, the militants scored the police for what they claimed was a "violent" dispersal of a "peaceful" march. - GMANews.TV