President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of rebellion in the Philippines yesterday and arrested key political rivals, after seeing off an attempt by tens of thousands of opposition supporters to storm the presidential palace.
Two policemen and a protester died during a night of violence in central Manila, when supporters of the deposed president, Mr Joseph Estrada, tried to break down the gates of the Malacanang palace.
But calm had generally returned by last evening, with only small groups of Estrada supporters still on the streets.
"The demonstrations were funded by people with a political agenda," Ms Arroyo said on national television. "It is clear that their goal is to bring down the legitimate government."
She vowed to crush the rebellion, saying anyone plotting to overthrow the government would be "beaten to a pulp".
The declaration of a state of rebellion is the first of three steps a president can take to maintain law and order. Subsequent steps are the suspension of habeas corpus rights and martial law.
Ms Arroyo told CNN she did not think it would be necessary to declare martial law, but would not say when the state of rebellion would be lifted.
The current Philippine political crisis was set off earlier this year when Mr Estrada was swept from office in a "people power" revolt fuelled by popular disgust with a senate decision not to allow key prosecution evidence in his impeachment trial for corruption.
Although Mr Estrada, now under arrest, still maintains he had only "temporarily" vacated office, the Supreme Court swore in Ms Arroyo as President exactly 100 days ago.
The government moved swiftly yesterday against those accused of inciting Mr Estrada's supporters to storm the palace, ordering arrest warrants for four key politicians including a former defence secretary, Mr Juan Ponce Enrile.