Arroyo grabs early poll lead in Philippines

PHILIPPINE President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took the lead in early election returns yesterday and a nationwide poll predicted she would win, but rumblings of trouble emerged as her movie star opponent said he believed he was being cheated.

Fernando Poe Jnr urged his supporters to demonstrate in Manila to "remain firm in our belief in the truth that victory is ours."

About 3,000 people gathered in the evening, singing, "FPJ, the hope of the nation."

The military warned against violence or mass protests, and said it would use "necessary force" to maintain order. The president's side has charged Poe supporters with plotting to stir up violence to overturn an Arroyo victory. Mr Poe's backers alleged problems with Monday's polling including men in military uniforms opening boxes to burn ballots, vote-buying, harassment of voters and switching of ballots.

Asked whether this amounted to cheating, Poe campaign spokesman Mike Romero said: "yes, there have been so many anomalies, delays in the canvassing."

Ms Arroyo praised what she called relatively orderly balloting and her spokesman denied cheating or intimidation. But she urged Filipinos to remain "vigilant until the last vote is counted" in a tally being done by hand and expected to take weeks. Asked about polls showing her ahead, Ms Arroyo did not directly answer. But she appeared confident. and said "the important thing now is we must leave behind the rancour that unfortunately characterised the campaign." The election campaign left at least 114 people dead since December and highlighted the deep divisions between the Philippines' impoverished majority.

A nationwide survey by the private polling group Social Weather Stations showed Ms Arroyo ahead of Mr Poe, 41% to 32%, and predicted she would win.