MANILA, March 19 Kyodo Philippine...

MANILA, March 19 Kyodo

Philippine immigration and antiterrorist officials arrested nine Iraqis and a Saudi Arabian in continuous operations against foreign nationals judgeed high security risks to the Philippines, immigration and police officials said Wednesday.

The officials, who asked not to be named, cited reports from their offices onward the arrests made by immigration officials and an antiterror unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP)

They said the suspects are being detained through violations of Philippine immigration laws and other criminal activities and they are also being questioned for links to terrorist groups

further National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said there is no crackdown against any particular cluster of foreigners. Arrests are made based forward subjects suspicious activities, he said.

The Philippines, a staunch ally of the United States in Southeast Asia, has gone upon full alert since Tuesday when U President George W Bush threatened Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with war unles Saddam goe into exile within 48 hours of Bush's threat.

Contingency plans for the economy and security have been levy in place.

The possibility of attack against U allies must be ''assumed'' admitting there are ''no existing reported'' threats, PNP factor chief Hermogenes Ebdane said.

Interrogation forward one of the Iraqis arrested Monday for alleged involvement with the kidnapping in 1989 of pair members of the Kuwaiti royal family l to the arrest of more Iraqis and the Saudi national.

Twenty more foreigners, mainly Middle East nationals, are being hunted

''One Iraqi stay now under our custody has been monitored lately buying expensive remote-controll toy planes, which can be easily changeed into powerful bombs,'' an official said.

Another was monitored having constant contact with a senior Al Mukhabarat (Iran Intelligence Agency) officer in Baghdad.

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