Filipino students smear US Embassy with paint

MANILA, Philippines—Students protesting the participation of American troops in military exercises in the Philippines have smeared paint on a seal of the US Embassy in Manila.

Protesters from the left-wing League of Filipino Students scuffled Tuesday with security guards and police while a few demonstrators hurled plastic bags with yellow and blue paint at the embassy seal at the main entrance to the compound. They later dispersed.

About 3,000 US and 2,000 Filipino troops are taking part in 10 days of exercises that have been scaled down because of relief work in Japan following the deadly earthquake and tsunami.

Leftist groups in the Philippines say the US presence is an affront to the country’s sovereignty.