By Geraldine Coughlan BBC News, The Hague

Mr Sison has lived in Holland for more than 20 years

A Dutch court has ordered a Philippine communist rebel leader to be held in detention for two weeks to allow prosecutors to investigate his case.

Jose Maria Sison is accused of ordering the murder of two ex-allies in Manila.

The founder of the Philippine Communist Party, Mr Sison was arrested on Tuesday in the central Dutch city of Utrecht, where he has been living in exile.

The party's military wing, the New People's Army, is waging a rebellion that has cost more than 40,000 lives.

Dutch prosecutors say he gave orders from The Netherlands for the murders of two political associates in the Philippines.

Supporters outside The Hague District Court demanded that Jose Maria Sison be set free.

In a closed court hearing he was indicted for ordering the murders of two former communist associates in the Philippines in 2003 and 2004.

Dutch prosecutors say he ordered the killings from his home in Utrecht, where he has been living in exile for 20 years.

Mr Sison's lawyer said the charges were politically motivated. The prosecution described the murders as "war crimes".