Ramos to seek bell from U.S.

Ramos to seek bell from U.S.

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Fidel Ramos leaves today for a meeting with President Bill Clinton to seek the return of war booty seized by the United States a century ago.

"It is the battle of the bells," Ramos said at the weekend, referring to a four-day official visit to Washington and New York. "I will do my best to exert whatever influence I have on this issue."

Part of Ramos' mission is to convince the country's closest Western ally and former colonial master to return a historic church bell that U.S. troops seized a century ago after invading the islands to establish their first colonial outpost in Asia.

The return of the bell has become an emotional issue in a country celebrating the 100th year anniversary of its short-lived declaration of independence from Spain, which had held the islands for three centuries until the Americans came.

Ramos said he would also press for approval by the U.S. Congress of long-delayed benefits for 70,000 surviving Filipino veterans who fought alongside U.S. forces during World War Two.