Brazen plotters advertise coup to oust Arroyo in newspapers

Rebels to exploit widespread unrest over rising power, gas and water prices

Coup plotters intent on ousting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are growing bolder, warning of the imminent use of force and placing advertisements in an opposition newspaper demanding she quit immediately.

A source close to defeated presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jnr said: 'Watch out for armed action and don't take a vacation until December 11.' A second source confirmed that 'armed action' was likely next month.

The rebels plan to move soon to exploit widespread public unrest over rising power, gas and water prices. The paid advertisements were published in The Daily Tribune on Wednesday, demanding Mrs Arroyo's resignation to make way for 'a new transition government'.

Mrs Arroyo ordered police to halt all street protests and intensify their monitoring of her estranged allies and those linked to Mr Poe and deposed former president Joseph Estrada.

One advertisement stated that because Mrs Arroyo had failed to implement a 'genuine' reorganisation of the military - tarnished by corruption - a group of enlisted soldiers and active and retired military officers would be forced 'to seek the reorganisation of the entire government'.

Retired commodore Ismael Aparri, president of the Federation of Retired, Commissioned and Enlisted Soldiers, signed the statement on behalf of a new group called Yes Arms.