Police and army troops in the Philippines have stormed the Peninsula hotel in Manila after it was seized by armed renegade soldiers.

Elite troops moved in at 7am (3pm local time) after the deadline for the rebels to leave the hotel had passed.

They battered down the door and fired tear gas into the lobby to free a number of hotel staff, journalists and guests who had been trapped in the property.

Renegade soldiers, accused of a failed mutiny in 2003, took over the hotel after breaking out of court where they were on trial.

They were calling for the overthrow of President Gloria Arroyo.

Prior to the assault, most of the hotel’s guests had left, but a number of people were seen in the lobby and many journalists had refused a government order to leave.

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By Kerstin Kühn

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