The presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee and Illinois state senator Barack Obama conveyed his sympathies and condolonces to the people of the Philippines through President Gloria Arroyo, after the country was struck over the weekend by Typhoon Fengshen.

At least 15,000 protesters, including two former Philippine presidents, have rallied in Manila, calling for President Gloria Arroyo's resignation over a controversial corruption scandal.

The Philippine peso is Asia's best-performing currency this year, appreciating almost 16 percent against the dollar. While this helps the country pay off its debt, it also means difficulties for those Filipinos who rely on remittances from the eight million who work abroad. Many of the migrants are employed in dollar-based economies such as Hong Kong and the Persian Gulf states, and the dollars they send are buying fewer pesos once they reach home.

Renegade Philippine soldiers said they would leave a Manila hotel after elite forces battered down the door and fired tear gas into the lobby.

The death toll from Typhoon Mitag has risen to 12 in the Philippines, as search operations continue for a missing air force jet and a fishing vessel with 27 people aboard.

Eight people died and two others are missing after Typhoon Mitag slammed into the Philippines, local media said on Monday.

A powerful typhoon in the Philippines veered from its course and swirled towards the northern part f the country. Government evacuates citizens.

Philippines authorities raced to evacuate up to one million people as Typhoon Mitag bore down on eastern areas devastated by storms last year.

Philippine police suspect a bomb at the House of Representatives that killed a congressman and two other people Tuesday night may have been triggered by a cell phone. In the aftermath of the explosion, the entire security force at the Philippine Congress has been changed.

Philippine legislator Wahab Akbar was killed in a bomb attack at the House of Representatives, raising the death toll to two with at least 10 injured, hospital staff and radio reports said.

Twenty-three people have been killed in the run-up to Monday's elections in the Philippines to choose tens of thousands of village chiefs and their youth representatives, police say.

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada was released on Friday after six and a half years in detention, the PNA news agency said.