Singapore, July 27: Western and Asian allies rallied behind Philippine President Gloria Arroyo today as her government negotiated an end to a mutiny by disgruntled military officers demanding her resignation.

The standoff was resolved in less than 24 hours after mediators convinced dissident officers and their men to vacate a commercial complex in the Makati Financial District which they had occupied to dramatize their cause.

In the end the rebels, numbering fewer than 300, failed to muster popular support at home and were roundly condemned by foreign governments. "I assure the world that this event does not in any way injure our national security and political stability," Arroyo, who vowed to have the rebels investigated under the articles of war, said on national television.

"Once more, this has been a triumph for democracy," she added.

Shortly after the revolt began, the US State Department declared that "no one should be under any doubt that we fully support the legitimate civilian government" of Arroyo, a US-educated economist who was herself brought to power by a popular uprising in 2001. Spokeswoman Joanne Moore said "a military coup would have immediate negative consequences" on ties with the United States, the Philippines' former colonial ruler and chief source of military aid and hardware.

In Manila, the US ambassador Francis Ricciardone said he doubted whether the rebels were bent on seizing power for themselves.

Bureau Report