Tight security in Philippines ahead of Asean meetings

More than 6,500 policemen and soldiers have been deployed in Manila to guard the sites for the 40th Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) Ministerial Meeting and the 14th Asean Regional Forum.

Police Deputy Director General Avelino Razon has assured delegates that security preparations for the meetings were in place, adding that police had "not received any threat to the upcoming meetings but it is not taking any chances." 

Britain on Thursday had warned of a "high threat of terrorism" in a travel advisory to its nationals in the country ahead of the summit.

"Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out these attacks at any time and anywhere in the country," the advisory said. "Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets in public places including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers." 

The Asean Ministerial Meeting, to be attended by foreign ministers of the regional bloc's 10 member countries, is set to officially open on Sunday with a dinner. The ministers would also hold separate meetings that night with various dialogue partners.

Foreign ministers from 17 other countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, the European Union and the United States, will join the Asean officials for the Asean Regional Forum starting Thursday.

Foreign ministers from North Korea, New Zealand and Brunei were among the first delegates to arrive on Saturday for the meetings in Manila.

Police have been conducting 24-hour patrol around the Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC), where the meetings will be held. Sniffing dogs were also deployed at the centre, while traffic to the area has been rerouted since last week.

Last December, an annual summit of Asean leaders and ministers from China, Japan and South Korea was thrown into chaos in the central province of Cebu amid terrorist warnings from such countries as Britain, Japan and the United States.

The Philippine government eventually cancelled the summit, blaming an incoming typhoon despite security sources admitting that a terrorist threat had prompted the decision. The summit pushed through in January.//(Deutsche Presse-Agentur/DPA)