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Warrants for Marines

OLONGAPO (Philippines): A Philippine judge on Friday issued arrest warrants for four U.S. Marines charged with rape, putting pressure on the United States to hand them over to Philippine authorities. The four servicemen have been held in U.S. Embassy custody in Manila, and the U.S. Government was still considering Manila's request for their transfer, filed in November. U.S. officials have said they have the right to keep the Marines in their custody, according to terms of the bilateral Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows large-scale U.S. military exercises in the Philippines. U.S. Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said he didn't expect the arrest warrants to have an immediate effect on Washington's decision to hand over the suspects. ``I think the U.S. Government is taking the request that was made in November under full consideration and continues to do so,'' he said. ``Whatever happens, it's important that both countries proceed under terms of VFA and addressing issues of this case, including the custody issue.'' — AP

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