Arroyo defends handing marine to US

The Philippine president has defended her decision to transfer a US marine convicted of rape from a local jail to the American embassy.

Gloria Arroyo said on Tuesday that the government had to take action "in order to forestall the further deterioration in our strategic relationship with the United States".

Evalyn Ursua, the lawyer who represented the Filipina raped by Lance-Corporal Daniel Smith, filed a complaint of contempt against the interior and justice ministers, alleging that they violated a court order to keep Smith in a jail in Manila when they handed him over to US custody.

Smith is appealing against his conviction and 40-year prison sentence.