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Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Friday that the ongoing war between the United States and Iraq is "a battle between tyranny and freedom," however, stressing that her country is not at war with Iraq.
Arroyo's pronouncement followed reports that the United States has requested the Philippines, member of the US-led "coalition of the willing" to disarm Iraq, to cut off its diplomatic ties with Iraq.
"We are in solidarity with the Iraqi people in their struggle for freedom just as we stand beside the coalition forces in the fight to redeem that freedom," Arroyo said.
Arroyo also reiterated that the Philippines would not be contributing combat troops to the effort but would instead provide humanitarian assistance when the war is over.
Arroyo also warned that terror groups might eventually get their hands on weapons of mass destruction, stressing that the Philippines had been the target of overseas terrorist groups in recent years, but did not say if they were linked to Iraq.
The Philippines is a key US ally in the Southeast Asian, and President Arroyo has been deemed as the "most outspoken supporter" of US President George Bush's global campaign against terrorism.
The US-led war on Iraq entered the second day on Friday, as civilian groups in the Philippines continued with their anti-war protest in Manila. The local Muslim community have been holding prayers in mosques nationwide in support of the Iraqis.
(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2003)
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