Manila's Estrada says he was a conspiracy victim

MANILA, May 31 (Reuters) Deposed Philippine President Joseph Estrada accused a group of business leaders, some Roman Catholic bishops and generals of conspiring to oust him from power in 2001, fabricating plunder cases against him. Estrada, 69, is accused of amassing up to 80 million dollars from state coffers and bribes while in power. The former film star denies the charges, which triggered his overthrow in a popular revolt in 2001.

''There were powerful and influential people I had offended when I was elected overwhelmingly in 1998,'' Estrada told an anti-corruption court. ''They can't accept my victory. They fabricated these charges to justify their actions in 2001.'' In his seventh appearance before the court, Estrada named two prominent business families, three generals, several bishops and politicians, including President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, among those behind a power grab five years ago.

Estrada said the anti-graft court could have thrown out the cases against him because he was still the president when his enemies filed eight corruption cases against him in 2001.

''As a sitting president, I have immunity from lawsuits,'' he said.

In his testimony, Estrada said he ha