Philippines may lift state of emergency by weekend

MANILA, Feb 28: The Philippines government may lift by this weekend the state of emergency imposed after the discovery of a coup plot, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves told reporters today.

''We will see if we can have a decision before or on Saturday. In the meantime we remain under emergency rule,'' he said.

DZMM radio reported that ministers and senior officials had asked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for more time to assess the security situation following last week's foiled coup.

It quoted Teves as saying the cabinet would meet on Saturday to consider lifting the emergency rule, which allows for arrests without warrant and an extension of detention without charge.

REUTERS