Ex-Philippine president's health worsens

Worsening cancer deteriorates the condition of former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, who toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The condition of former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, in hospital for colon cancer, has deteriorated, her daughter said in a televised interview today. Prayers have been said across this mostly Catholic South-east Asian nation for Mrs Aquino, 76, who has been hospitalised for the past month. "This is the hardest time for all of us," Kristina Bernadette Aquino told ABS-CBN television. Mrs Aquino's daughter, a celebrity in the Philippines, wept as she outlined her mother's condition.

"She is in pain already, so please pray for her so that it could be lessened. "We don't know how many more hours, days and weeks God will give her, but please help us pray that my mum won't suffer too much pain," she said. Mrs Aquino, the widow of assassinated opposition leader Benigno 'Ninoy" Aquino, was propelled into the spotlight in 1986 when she headed a massive "people power" movement that toppled late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The then-housewife who reluctantly became president went on to restore democracy and rewrite the country's constitution. Over the past four weeks, Ms Aquino's friends and former officials have been rallying support for the family, which has appealed for the public to give them private space. A spokeswoman for the family earlier said Mrs Aquino had given up all medical intervention including chemotherapy and was leaving her fate to God.

* AFP