Former Philippine Leader Warns Against Illegally Ousting Arroyo

Former President Corazon Aquino has urged the political opposition not to use unconstitutional means to oust embattled President Gloria Arroyo, who is fighting allegations of vote fraud.

Ms. Aquino told reporters she made the appeal Thursday during a meeting with Susan Roces, the widow of former presidential candidate Fernando Poe. In a speech Wednesday Ms. Roces had called on President Arroyo to step down. The comments come amid growing threats by Ms. Arroyo's political opponents of massive street protests to force out the president.

Ms. Aquino, who succeeded late dictator Ferdinand Marcos after he was toppled in massive "people power" street protests in 1986, said the constitution provides ways to safely effect difficult political changes.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.