Philippines declares state of emergency

The Philippine government has declared a state of emergency after claiming it thwarted an attempted coup d'etat by the army.

President Gloria Arroyo arrested brigadier-general Danilo Lim in response to growing rumours that plotters would use tomorrow's 20th anniversary of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos' fall to mount their own coup.

The emergency laws were breached by thousands of protesters in Manila on Friday, met with water cannons and riot police on Friday in response

"I am declaring a state of emergency because of the clear threat to the nation," Ms Arroyo broadcast on national television.

"This is my warning against those who threaten the government... the whole weight of the law will fall on your treason."

Attempted coups are something of an institution in the Philippines, which have seen 12 bids to seize power in the last two decades.

Ms Arroyo had survived two previous attempts herself, only to face mounting pressure in recent months over accusations of electoral corruption.