Militants’ protests disrupt traffic near US Embassy

From GMA News (Apr 23): Militants’ protests disrupt traffic near US Embassy

Morning traffic near the US Embassy in Manila was disrupted at least twice Wednesday as militant groups tried to march to the embassy to protest the upcoming visit of US President Barack Obama.

An initial group of 30 to 50 militants faced off with riot police before 8 a.m., while a bigger group engaged police in a shoving match at 10 a.m., radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.

Before noon Wednesday, the Bureau of Fire Protection sent a fire truck to help anti-riot police disperse further protest actions, the report said.

The first protest march disrupted early morning traffic when militant youths wearing red headbands marched from the National Library at T.M. Kalaw Street to the embassy.

Manila Police District anti-riot personnel blocked them before they could get near the embassy. The confrontation took up about two lanes of Roxas Boulevard's southbound portion.

But at about 10 a.m., a bigger group protesting Obama's visit tried a similar march to the embassy, and exchanged shoves with anti-riot police.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said that as of 10:48 a.m., only one lane of Roxas Boulevard's southbound part near the US Embassy was passable.

It estimated the number of protesters in the second march at 80, from Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela and Anakpawis.

Militants in the second group brought placards that read "US troops out now" and "No to US-military bases."

Wednesday's protest marches came less than a week before the visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines. Obama's visit is scheduled April 28 and 29.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/358001/news/metromanila/militants-protests-disrupt-traffic-near-us-embassy