RP demands apology from U.S.

RP demands apology from U.S.

PHILIPPINES: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on
Monday demanded an apology for a U.S. Republican congressional
survey that described the country and Thailand as among nations
aiding and harboring terrorists.

Arroyo said the question - "Should American broaden the war on
terrorism into other countries that harbor and aid terrorists
such as Thailand, Syria, Somalia, the Philippines, etc.?" - was
"fallacious" and "reflects irresponsibility".

The question was included in the National Republican
Congressional Committee's "Ask America 2004" policy survey, one
of the party's fund-raising initiatives.

"We don't deserve this kind of treatment," Arroyo said. "The
Philippines has been a staunch supporter of the global war
against terrorism and has proven its worth in reducing the
operational capability of terrorists domestically and
transnationally."

"I would like the department of foreign affairs to demand an
apology for the unfair and baseless accusation that we belong to
a list of countries harboring terrorists," she added. --DPA