Manila says arrests 2 Arab militants plotting attacks

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has arrested two Arab militants believed to be planning to bomb embassies of the United States, Britain, and Israel in the capital Manila, government officials said on Thursday.

The two men were picked up in raids last month on the southern island of Mindanao after weeks of surveillance, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the seniormost member of the cabinet, told reporters.

"I don't have the names and the complete details of their arrests, but they were involved in teaching local terrorists on how to make bombs," Ermita said after a speech at a counter terrorism forum in Manila.

Police and army intelligence authorities told Reuters one of the arrested militants was holding a Jordanian traveling document but they were checking their real identities.

"We found documents showing plots to bomb several embassies in Manila, such as the United States, Australia, United Kingdom and Israel," said a police intelligence official, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

"We're still validating the information taken from these two men. They were brought to Manila for further debriefing but we've informed some of the embassies concerned."

A diplomat from one of the four embassies told Reuters they were aware of the plot and have been keenly monitoring the situation.

Last week, Avelino Razon, the head of the national police, announced the arrest of another Middle Eastern man for an alleged plot to assassinate President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Razon said the suspect was also being linked to the plot to attack the U.S. and Australian embassies in Manila after some sheets of paper in Arabic seized from his possession indicated his role in the plots.

(Reporting by Manny Mogato; editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Sanjeev Miglani)