Emergency rule has been criticised as unconstitutional

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has ordered a review of the security threat facing her government and hopes to end emergency rule "as soon as possible".

Mrs Arroyo told national TV the review would be completed in "24 to 72 hours".

"I will lift the state of emergency once I am convinced... that we are in control of the situation," she said.

The emergency rule, imposed last week after an alleged coup threat, has been criticised as unconstitutional and as a source of further unrest.

Mrs Arroyo said she had asked the defence and justice ministers, and the police chief, to conduct the security review.

Arroyo fails to resolve doubts

"I want to lift the state of emergency at the soonest possible time," she said.

'Levelled off'

But Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales said it might be too early to lift emergency rule, which allows arrests without warrants and bans political rallies.

"I think the situation has levelled off, but to say whether we have or not neutralized the people who want to topple the government, I am not prepared to answer at this point," he said.

Police have filed charges of rebellion against 16 people for the alleged coup, including five lawmakers and soldiers.

They are accused of being involved in a plot to overthrow Mrs Arroyo.

The state prosecutor said the five lawmakers had lost their immunity as members of Congress because they were accused of a serious offence punishable by more than six years in prison.

Another suspect, whose whereabouts are unknown, is Gregorio Honasan, a former senator linked to more than a dozen coup attempts.

The Supreme Court said it would start debating petitions questioning the emergency declaration next week.