Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sought yesterday to placate critics of the emergency rule she imposed after the discovery of a putsch plot, saying she wanted to lift the order as soon as possible. But she promised only a review of the situation within 72 hours as military intelligence officials warned that there were lingering threats of an attempt to topple her.

?I will lift the state of emergency once I am convinced that the security officials can assure me that we are in control of the situation?, Arroyo said in a televised address. ?The justice secretary will report to me on the destabilisation movements, the secretary of national defence on the conditions in the military and the national police chief on peace and order and rule of law.?

Arroyo imposed her order, which grants broad powers of detention, last Friday after saying that there had been a conspiracy by members of the opposition, communist groups and ?military adventurists? to bring down her government. She has come under pressure from her vice-president, economic managers and others, including the US State Department, to lift the emergency as soon as possible.

?I think this is to placate but also she is of two minds to continue to wield this power?, said Tom Green, executive director of Manila-based Pacific Strategies & Assessments. ?She is probably in a dilemma right now. She would probably like to extend it but she has not made that decision yet. It's a double-edged sword if she overplays it.?