The standoff was resolved in less than 24 hours after mediators convinced dissident officers and their men to vacate a commercial complex in the Makati financial district which they had occupied to dramatize their cause.

In the end the rebels, numbering fewer than 300, failed to muster popular support at home and were roundly condemned by foreign governments.

"I assure the world that this event does not in any way injure our national security and political stability," Arroyo, who vowed to have the rebels investigated under the articles of war, said on national television.

"Once more, this has been a triumph for democracy," she added.

Shortly after the revolt began, the US State Department declared that "no one should be under any doubt that we fully support the legitimate civilian government" of Arroyo, a US-educated economist who was herself brought to power by a popular uprising in 2001.

Spokeswoman Joanne Moore said "a military coup would have immediate negative consequences" on ties with the United States, the Philippines' former colonial ruler and chief source of military aid and hardware.

In Manila, the US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said he doubted whether the rebels were bent on seizing power for themselves.

But Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who was in Singapore when the Manila rebels seized an apartment tower where Australian ambassador Ruth Pearce was staying, denounced what he called a coup attempt.

During the standoff, Pearce and other foreign guests were released unharmed from the Oakwood luxury apartments, part of a shopping mall complex which was rigged with explosives and protected by rebel snipers to deter a government counter-attack.

The mutinous soldiers invoked a wide array of grievances, from low pay and corruption in the armed forces to alleged links of the Arroyo government to terrorism, a charge widely dismissed by the international community.

They demanded that Arroyo and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes resign.

Indonesia, the largest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said it "unreservedly rejects any attempt at the overthrow of a democratic government."

Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told AFP that "any attempt at the overthrow of a legitimate government is certainly alien to Southeast Asia, which is fast moving toward greater democracy."

China expressed concern over events in Manila, but said the Philippine government was capable of dealing with the rebellion.

Foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said that "as a friendly neighbor, China hopes the Philippine government could maintain political stability so that the people could enjoy a peaceful life."

Singapore, with major investments in the Philippines, said it was fully confident Arroyo's government would be able to restore order and warned that "the resort to unconstitutional means by the rebels is unacceptable."

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said that "because of ASEAN's interdependence" and members' geographical proximity, "any tendency of instability in any one country could impact on other countries."

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar sent Arroyo a telegram "emphatically condemning" attempts by the rebels to "put an end to constitutional order in the Philippines."

Australia's Downer said the mutiny "comes at a very difficult time, when the Philippines is in the forefront of the war against terrorism."

"The last thing any of us wants at this time is this kind of instability." he added, declaring Australia's firm support for "the democratically elected government of the president of the Philippines."

Arroyo was elected vice president in 1998 and took over from president Joseph Estrada after he was toppled by a popular uprising in January 2001. Estrada is now detained while on trial for alleged corruption.

Supporters of Estrada mounted a failed attempt to overthrow Arroyo in May 2001 and are now suspected of having links with the latest eruption of political unrest in Manila.

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