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CNN Live Saturday
Update On Tense Military Stand Off In Manila
Aired July 26, 2003 - 18:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: More now on that tense standoff in the Philippines, where dozens of armed men dressed in military camouflage have taken over a mall in Manila.
Let's go to our Maria Ressa on the line, live from Manila with the latest -- Maria.
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sophia, I spoke with one of these men. There are about 50 of them now in the commercial center in the financial capitol of the Philippines. They -- he did say that they are members of the Philippine armed forces.
Earlier in the -- on Saturday, the Philippine military announced that it had discovered a plot to destabilize the government from mid- level officers. They've since then come out with a statement saying that they are not carrying out a coup attempt, but that they want to get their accusations against the government aired.
That is part of the reason they rigged -- they booby trapped explosives around that area to make sure that they have the attention. Well, they certainly do have the attention of the government now.
Their claim is that the Philippine government has been selling arms to rebel groups, carrying out terrorist bombings in the -- to the goal of declaring martial law later in August. It's a claim that the Philippine military claims is a complete lie.
CHOI: Maria, we're hearing reports that these rogue soldiers are holding an Australian ambassador as well as a couple of Americans. Have you heard anything about that?
RESSA: What's happening is that the compound that they've taken -- in effect that they've taken hostage, they've pushed people out. They're not allowing anyone in. They're also not allowing anyone out. That compound has two five star hotels in it. The Intercontinental Hotel is on one side. The Oakwood Hotel is on the other.
The Oakwood is also an apartment hotel. It's a residential complex. Homes of many expatriates here in Manila, including some from the Australian embassy. I have not confirmed that the Australian ambassador herself is still there, but we do know that the soldiers are not preventing any of the foreigners at the Oakwood Apartments or the Intercontinental Hotel from leaving.
Having said that, just a short while ago, they did release flyers at the site, saying that they would allow them to leave in an orderly fashion. There's been no sign of that at this point. CHOI: All right, Maria Ressa on the line from Manila with the latest from there. Thank you, Maria.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 26, 2003 - 18:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: More now on that tense standoff in the Philippines, where dozens of armed men dressed in military camouflage have taken over a mall in Manila.
Let's go to our Maria Ressa on the line, live from Manila with the latest -- Maria.
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sophia, I spoke with one of these men. There are about 50 of them now in the commercial center in the financial capitol of the Philippines. They -- he did say that they are members of the Philippine armed forces.
Earlier in the -- on Saturday, the Philippine military announced that it had discovered a plot to destabilize the government from mid- level officers. They've since then come out with a statement saying that they are not carrying out a coup attempt, but that they want to get their accusations against the government aired.
That is part of the reason they rigged -- they booby trapped explosives around that area to make sure that they have the attention. Well, they certainly do have the attention of the government now.
Their claim is that the Philippine government has been selling arms to rebel groups, carrying out terrorist bombings in the -- to the goal of declaring martial law later in August. It's a claim that the Philippine military claims is a complete lie.
CHOI: Maria, we're hearing reports that these rogue soldiers are holding an Australian ambassador as well as a couple of Americans. Have you heard anything about that?
RESSA: What's happening is that the compound that they've taken -- in effect that they've taken hostage, they've pushed people out. They're not allowing anyone in. They're also not allowing anyone out. That compound has two five star hotels in it. The Intercontinental Hotel is on one side. The Oakwood Hotel is on the other.
The Oakwood is also an apartment hotel. It's a residential complex. Homes of many expatriates here in Manila, including some from the Australian embassy. I have not confirmed that the Australian ambassador herself is still there, but we do know that the soldiers are not preventing any of the foreigners at the Oakwood Apartments or the Intercontinental Hotel from leaving.
Having said that, just a short while ago, they did release flyers at the site, saying that they would allow them to leave in an orderly fashion. There's been no sign of that at this point. CHOI: All right, Maria Ressa on the line from Manila with the latest from there. Thank you, Maria.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
