President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lifted a week-old state of emergency today, after her security advisers assured her that the threat of a coup has eased. She made the announcement in a nationally televised address. Arroyo declared the emergency last Friday to quash a coup plot allegedly involving disgruntled soldiers, communist rebels and civilian backers. On Thursday, the defense, justice and police chiefs said they would recommend lifting the decree because the situation was normalizing.

Algeria: Militants to be released

Algeria will pardon or reduce the sentences of more than 2,000 convicted or suspected Islamic militants, the Justice Ministry said Thursday, forging ahead with a government effort to turn the page on a brutal insurgency. Some 2,100 suspects will benefit from pardons or an end to legal proceedings they faced, the ministry’s chief of staff said. Another 100 militants, convicted for severe crimes, will have their sentences reduced, he said. The measures, which stem from a national reconciliation plan, take effect immediately, he said.

From Herald news services