Al Jazeera

Chinese guards travelling with the Olympic torch could face arrest if they lay hands on any protesters during the relay in Australia's capital next week.

Ted Quinlan, chairman of the Canberra relay task force, said the so-called torch attendants will have no responsibility for security.

"The answer is no they won't and, in fact, they could be subject to arrest if they laid a hand on somebody," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio.

The Australian official's remarks came as Pakistan welcomed the Olympic torch early on Wednesday.

Mohammed Yahya, the event coordinator, said there was "absolutely no chance of any trouble, any protest against it" but indicated "all the security arrangements are in place to ensure peace" during the relay.

Security around the torch has become a hot-button issue since anti-China protesters began targeting the Olympic symbol, causing chaos along the relay legs in London and Paris and causing organizers in other cities to change the route and beef up protection measures.

Track-suited Chinese officials recruited from paramilitary forces have been accompanying the flame along the relay.

The guards, member of the Chinese paramilitary police, were criticized for heavy-handed tactics in London and Paris.

Robert McClelland, Australia's attorney-general, said security in Canberra will be the responsibility of the Australian Federal Police.

"The only role that they - the Chinese officials - will play will be to light the torch should it be extinguished," he said.

Australian police have been given new powers for the relay on April 24 authorizing them to stop and search people along the relay route and ban them from carrying "prohibited items" such as "balls, eggs, paint bombs and any similar item that is likely to be used as a projectile".

Typhoon "Frank" moved towards China Sea Sunday night after almost two days of battering provinces from south to north with rains, wind and high surf.

If “Frank” will not change course, Luzon will still experience rains Monday, while the Visayas regions will have clearer skies, the weather bureau said. There will be general improvement in weather all over the country starting Tuesday.

It left a trail of hundreds dead, more than 80,000 families displaced, and millions worth of damaged infrastructure.

With gusts of up to 170 kph, “Frank” was difficult to forecast as it changed course several times. It was expected to batter the Bicol region after hitting the Visayas region but it changed directions Saturday when it barreled its way towards southern Luzon.

Domestic and some international flights were delayed, many roads were blocked and power cuts were widespread. Various parts of the country—from Cavite City to Iloilo City to central Maguindanao—reported extensive flooding, resulting in massive evacuations in safer areas, such as schools. Classes in all levels in 13 affected provinces were called off Monday.

“Frank” exited the country through Pangasinan province Sunday night.

Signal number 3 remains hoisted over northern Zambales, western Pangasinan and La Union. Signal number 2 is still up over the rest of Zambales, Tarlac, the rest of Pangasinan, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Abra. Signal No. 1 remains over the provinces of Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Nueva Viscaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan and Metro Manila.


More survivors, casualties count to go up

According to the National Disaster Coordinating council, casualty count has reached 86, but the Philippine National Red Cross said it has reached more than 140.

PNRC chief Sen. Richard Gordon said the number would probably go up as they are still waiting for reports from their offices across the country.

The current count also does not include potential hundreds of casualties from the capsized MV Princess of the Stars with over 700 passengers and crew on board.

So far, only 28 survivors and 3 casualties have been accounted for. Four of the survivors have been earlier found in a coastal village in Sibuyan Island, where the capsized vessle could be seen.

Reports of more than 20 additional survivors were spotted in Quezon province Monday dawn. They reportedly underwent medical tests.


Bad weather hampers rescue

The ship, en route from the capital Manila to the central island of Cebu and 16 hours into its 22-hour voyage, issued a distress signal before going down mid-day Saturday.

MV Princess of the Stars is owned by Sulpicio Lines and has 200,000 liters of oil. Government officials said they will be in the lookout for possible oil spill.

Rescue operations were earlier hampered by huge waves and strong winds.

In a statement released late Sunday evening, Sulpicio Lines Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Go said they are "deeply saddened" by the unfortunate event that happened on the ship.

"Along with the rescue vessel provided by the Philippine Coastguard, we have dispatched our M/V Cebu Princess and hired 2 Malayan tagboats to aid in the rescue," the statement said, but it added that "severe we weather condition delayed the rescue efforts both from the sea and on air.”

Go added that, “Our company also assures the families of all unfortunate passengers who perished in this incident that they will be properly compensated."

Gordon said the PNRC is also helping in rescue operations as they were hoping for more survivors.

Gordon added that operations are also ongoing in one baranggay in Antique and at the Tumana River in Marikina where rubber boats have been deployed to rescue stranded people.

The PNRC is currently conducting relief operations for victims of the typhoon.


Displaced and damaged

The NDCC added that Frank has displaced 82,572 families and damaged 155,000 houses.

More than 10,600 families were also evacuated from their homes and were transferred to at least 180 evacuation centers.

The NDCC said that Region 6, composed of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental, was the worst hit by the storm. Also affected were Regions 3 and 7.

The provincial governments of Albay and Antique have already declared state of calamity to release funds needed for the rehabilitation process.

The national government also released more than P8 million to speed up road repairs and relief operations.

President Arroyo, who is on a 10-day official visit to the US, has instructed the Departments of Defense and the Interior and Local Government to provide immediate relief assistance to provinces battered by Frank.

"The president was very strict in her instructions in pursuing relief and rescue efforts. But one of the things that hampers rescue efforts is the bad weather because even if air assets positioned we can't use them due to gusty winds in that area that can damage the air assets," said Dr. Anthony Golez, NDCC spokesman.


Typhoon heading towards China Sea

Weather bureau PAGASA said that as of 10:00 p.m. Franks is spotted
70 kilometers west northwest of Dagupan with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

PAGASA said Frank will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon and bring rains over the Western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

All domestic and international flights to and from Manila airport, and the LRT and MRT rail operatins have been resumed.


Class suspension

There are no classes on all levels on Monday in 13 provinces affected by the typhoon, including Metro Manila, the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education announced Sunday.

DepEd secretary Jesli Lapus told radio dzMM that classes in both elementary and high school in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, La Union, Benguet and Ilocos Norte will be suspended Monday, public storm warning signals notwithstanding.

Lapus said the suspension is due to the danger brought about by monsoon rains and floods in the said areas.

However, he clarified that the guidelines on class suspension based on storm warning signals is still in effect.

For the tertiary level, CHED secretary Romulo Neri also announced the suspension of classes in the aforementioned areas.

"Sec. Neri declared suspension of classes at all college/tertiary level tomorrow in the 12 provinces affected by the typhoon including NCR," CHED National Capital Region director Amelia Biglete relayed in a text message.

Laguna provincial officials also announced the suspension of classes in all levels.