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| Clinton on visit to Philippines | Clinton on visit to Philippines |
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| Hillary Clinton is making her first visit to the Philippines as US Secretary of State. | Hillary Clinton is making her first visit to the Philippines as US Secretary of State. |
| During her two-day visit she plans to visit typhoon victims and talk about the country's 2010 elections. | During her two-day visit she plans to visit typhoon victims and talk about the country's 2010 elections. |
| There is speculation she will also discuss security issues in the Muslim south, where US troops are active. | |
| Hillary Clinton says her visit will be a show of solidarity to the Filipino people following the worst storms here in 40 years. | Hillary Clinton says her visit will be a show of solidarity to the Filipino people following the worst storms here in 40 years. |
| Sources close to the secretary of state say Mrs Clinton will also take the opportunity to reject calls to renegotiate the stationing of US troops in the south. | Sources close to the secretary of state say Mrs Clinton will also take the opportunity to reject calls to renegotiate the stationing of US troops in the south. |
| Senators in the Philippines have called for an amendment to the Visiting Forces Agreement, a pact which allows American troops to be based in the country. The US says the soldiers are taking part in training. | Senators in the Philippines have called for an amendment to the Visiting Forces Agreement, a pact which allows American troops to be based in the country. The US says the soldiers are taking part in training. |
| But those in opposition to the agreement question the troops' true purpose in the south, where Islamic militants have been fighting for an independent homeland for decades. | But those in opposition to the agreement question the troops' true purpose in the south, where Islamic militants have been fighting for an independent homeland for decades. |
| Mrs Clinton is also expected to relay Washington's desire for a clean election and smooth transition of power in May 2010 when the country elects a new leader. | Mrs Clinton is also expected to relay Washington's desire for a clean election and smooth transition of power in May 2010 when the country elects a new leader. |
| The former US colony has seen a fresh wave of violence in the south ahead of the visit. | The former US colony has seen a fresh wave of violence in the south ahead of the visit. |
| A teacher kidnapped by Islamic separatists was beheaded earlier this week, and a group of gunmen abducted three people in the south on Tuesday. | A teacher kidnapped by Islamic separatists was beheaded earlier this week, and a group of gunmen abducted three people in the south on Tuesday. |