Muslim activists stone convoy in south
A convoy carrying US troops in the southern Philippine city of Marawi has been stoned and forced to retreat by Muslim activists demanding the suspension of today's US-Philippine military exercises.
A windscreen was shattered but no one was hurt during the clash on Friday, according to Luwaran, the website of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The convoy was forced to turn back to nearby Cagayan de Oro City.
US embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson confirmed the stoning incident and said it was a cause for concern.
'But I think that when people understand that what Balikatan [the annual joint military exercise] is providing in Mindanao is free medical care, free construction of schools and other community infrastructure, I would hope people would support that,' she said.
To cool the rising tension in Marawi, capital of Lanao del Sur province, Governor Mamintal Adiong has asked US military officials to sign a memorandum of understanding which would state that the joint exercises would be strictly humanitarian in nature. The two-week Balikatan exercise is due to begin today.