Philippines hotel standoff ends
Tear gas was fired into the lobby after government troops stormed the hotel.
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Thursday, 29, Nov 2007 11:08
Rebel soldiers besieged in Manila have surrendered after more than 1,000 Philippine army troops stormed the prestigious hotel they were holed up in.
A spokesperson said the rebels laid down their arms to save the lives of innocent civilians caught up in the standoff.
The Peninsula hotel, one of the capital's most luxurious buildings, was seized earlier today by military officers standing trial for an attempted coup in 2003.
The officers - some of whom were reportedly armed - stormed out of a court house and took refuge in the nearby hotel, posting uniformed troops with M-16 rifles to guard their position.
And after a 15:00 local time (07:00 GMT) deadline to give themselves up passed, president Gloria Arroyo was thought to have ordered police and army troops to storm the hotel.
The majority of the guests had left the building by the time government forces began to fire tear gas into the hotel lobby, but it is believed some journalists refused a government evacuation order.
Antonio Trillanes, one of the officers on trial, told the AFP news agency: "We are going out for the safety of everybody. We won't be able to live with our consciences if some of you get hit or get killed in the crossfire."
Mr Trillanes and the other soldiers involved were on trial for a failed 2003 insurrection in which they commandeered a shopping centre and demanded the resignation of Ms Arroyo.
She has survived at least three coup attempts and three impeachment plots during her seven dramatic years in power.