Clinton's zealous security

Clinton's zealous security

MANILA (Reuter): Security was so tight when U.S. President Bill Clinton flew into Manila for an Asia-Pacific summit that his minders stopped the Philippine vice-president when he went to welcome the U.S. leader at the airport.

"You cannot tell me what to do right here in my country," Vice-President Joseph Estrada snapped to the U.S. security men. "I am the vice president."

Estrada, who described the incident to reporters, was blocked when he tried to approach Clinton after the U.S. leader flew into Manila on Saturday night for the annual summit of the 18-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Estrada was allowed through after explaining who he was.

Estrada headed the Philippine welcoming party for Clinton which also included House Speaker Jose de Venecia and Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a classmate of Clinton years ago when she was studying in the United States.

Summit security is tight due to fears that Philippine leftists may try to mount an attack during the APEC conference. The Clinton motorcade made a last-minute switch in its route from the airport after two men were reported acting suspiciously at a traffic signal control box on the original route.