Muslim women joined Roman Catholic nuns, office workers, university students and groups as they marched on Ayala Avenue, the key artery of Makati district, the headquarters of most of the country's top businesses, the Philippine Star daily on-line news reported.

One bank plastered a huge banner that read "kapayapaan" (meaning "peace") to its main door. Office workers cheered as the crowd passed by.

The marchers carried placards that read "We Resist US War of Aggression," "War is Murder, Ceasefire Now!" and chanted anti-US slogans.

Security was tight with riot police closely watching from the sidelines, as traffic stood at a standstill with motorists told touse alternative routes.

The Philippines is among the dozens of countries that is included in the Washington-led "coalition for the immediate disarmament of Iraq."

Earlier, in the midst of the raging war in Iraq, Philippine former President Fidel Ramos also called for world peace, and for mankind to embrace a win-win solution of "caring, sharing and daring for one another" so that terrorism and war become obsolete.

Ramos issued the call in a speech at the launching of the centennial book of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines "Spanning the Decades" at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2003)