ASEAN leaders get caring and sharing welcome

CEBU, Philippines, Jan 12 (Reuters) Southeast Asian leaders arrived in this Philippines resort today for a summit -- rescheduled amid typhoon and terrorist warnings --that aims to create a ''caring and sharing'' community in the region.

Men in traditional island gear stood atop a new convention centre in Cebu blowing conch horns. Women in flowing green gowns danced and twirled red umbrellas on the ground as presidents, prime ministers, a king and former generals pulled up in limousines.

Searchlights raked the night, filled with the sounds of beating drums and shrieking whistles in a cacophonous Filipino welcome.

A sudden downpour did little to dampen spirits for the biggest event in Cebu since Ferdinand Magellan ended his circumnavigation of the globe here in 1521, slain by chief Lapu-Lapu, who objected to the Portuguese's claiming his lands in the name of Spain, and baptising his people.

The Philippines was on high alert after three bombings on Wednesday night, hundreds of miles to the south of the venue, killed eight people and wounded dozens.

Officials suspected Islamic militants and said the blasts were designed to embarrass the Philippines ahead of the ASEAN meetings and a broader East Asia summit next week.

More than 13,000 police and troops have been deployed in and around Cebu city, in the centre of the Philippines archipelago and the country's oldest town.

ASEAN CHARTER The series of ASEAN meetings, which host Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has tasked with creating a caring and sharing community in the region, began with foreign ministers rebuking Myanmar yesterday for dragging its feet on democratic reforms.

Washington was pushing for a Security Council vote later today on its draft resolution calling on the former Burma to stop persecution and release political prisoners. Diplomats said China or Russia might veto the measure.

In line with its tradition of non-interference in members' affairs, ASEAN has taken no stand on the US move, but embarrassed over Myanmar's notoriety, leaders will consider junking that rule in talks about drafting a charter for the grouping later this year.

ASEAN leaders are due to sign a blueprint for a charter this weekend that would create a community not unlike the European Union, bound by rules and commitments.

The grouping, with a population the size of Europe's, plans to bring forward the establishment of an economic community from 2020 to 2015, ''transforming ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment and capital'', according to a draft declaration circulating at the meeting.

ASEAN leaders will also discuss poverty alleviation in countries that have some of the globe's smallest per capita incomes, and disaster prevention in a region that has seen a devastating tsunami, catastrophic earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, forest fires and pandemics over the last couple of years.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam --countries that span the economic and political spectrum.

The leaders are also scheduled to sign a counter-terrorism agreement, clamping down on the unregulated movement of militants and arms across the porous borders of Southeast Asia, which Washington sees as a frontline in its war against terrorism.

The summit was supposed to have been held a month ago, but was rescheduled due to the approach of a typhoon, amid warnings from Western countries of possible terrorist attacks on the meetings.

REUTERS SP MIR BST1709