Philippines to round up plotters

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Dozens of people have been arrested, and others are being sought by police, following Thursday's failed coup attempt in the Philippines.

Renegade soldiers on trial for an earlier mutiny marched out of court and took over a hotel, demanding the overthrow of President Gloria Arroyo.

But they quickly surrendered when troops stormed the building.

A curfew in place overnight has now been lifted, and is not expected to be imposed for a second night.

A few thousand people are reported to have taken part in an anti-government rally on Friday morning, which had already been planned before the coup attempt took place.

But similar rallies in the past have had far more participants, and the city is reportedly calm.

Soft penalties

Most of the group directly involved in Thursday's hotel siege have already been detained by police.

Manila is calm, and the hotel is being seen as a tourist attractionThe authorities are likely to file sedition and rebellion charges against many of the renegade soldiers on Monday, when the courts re-open.

The maximum sentence for sedition is life imprisonment, but in the past rebel soldiers have not been given very harsh punishments. Some have even been promoted shortly after their cases have been heard.

The security forces are still searching for other people whom they suspect were involved in the insurrection.

COUPS AND COUP ATTEMPTS Feb 1986 President Ferdinand Marcos steps down following a coup led by government ministers and army officersAug 1987Rebel officers occupy army headquarters, 53 people killedDec 19896,000 troops stage a week-long mutiny during which the presidential palace is bombedJan 2001Gloria Arroyo comes to power after a popular church-backed revolt against her predecessor, Joseph EstradaJuly 2003 Nearly 300 soldiers seize control of a luxury apartment in Manila but surrender without a shot being fired Feb 2006Failed plot by rebel soldiers to grab power during weekend reunion of military academy

Police chief Avelino Razon told the French news agency AFP that at least three soldiers seen taking over the hotel had managed to get away, despite a tight security cordon around the building.

Up to 20 other people are also said to be under investigation, including opposition politicians and businessmen who were not directly part of the hotel siege.

The Philippines has a history of insurrection and popular revolt.

Mrs Arroyo, whose popularity has been dented by long-standing corruption allegations, has already survived at least two coup plots and three attempts to impeach her during her time in office.

According to her aides, she plans to go ahead with a previously scheduled trip to Europe this weekend.