Leftists protest RP-US war games

Leftists protest RP-US war games

MANILA (AFP): A small group of leftwing activists on Sunday held a rally in front of the U.S. embassy in the Philippine capital Manila to protest the resumption of war games between the allies.

Less than 50 activists, belonging to the New Nationalist Alliance, carried placards which read "Yankees, go home" and "No to war exercises" but later left quietly.

Four weeks of joint military exercises involving some 5,000 Filipino and American troops are to begin on Monday. Maneuvers will be held at several sites, including the two former American military bases of Clark and Subic north of Manila.

The Philippine senate last year ratified a visiting forces agreement with Washington that spelled out the legal framework for visiting American troops, paying the way for resumption of large scale joint exercises.