The Philippine government will not allow U.S. troops, that are holding wargames with Philippine army men near the base of the hostage-taking Abu Sayyaf in southern Philippines, to target the communist New People's Army (NPA) nationwide, a peace negotiator said.

The presence of some 600 U.S. troops in the Philippines for joint military exercises would not lead to a "new Vietnam" in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean), said Eduardo Ermita, adding, "I don't see that it could lead to another Vietnam. I don't think the next target will be the communists."

It was in response to a warning aired by Luis Jalandoni, head of the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) which is engaged in peace negotiations with the Philippine government, who claimed the U.S. has been "deliberately setting up a tripwire to a new Vietnam".

The communists should stop releasing statements that would endanger the ongoing peace process, said Ermita, adding both camps should "work for the peace process to prosper".

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo belied the allegation of the Communist Party of the Philippine (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison that she would be ousted peacefully if she does not give in to the many demands of the U.S. such as the forging of a new defence agreement which would allow U.S. access to the country's sea and airports, including the stockpiling of arms. "That will not happen at all," she said in a radio interview.

At the same time, Arroyo said she has called up U.S. Senator Sam Brownback over his last week's remarks that the country would be the next target of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts, following a campaign in Afghanistan.

"He offered an explanation that he was misquoted. He offered his apology," said Arroyo.

Arroyo said she has renewed peace talks with the NDF early this year even if her predecessor, former president Joseph Estrada shelved the talks with the mainstream NDF and resorted to talks with a local communist group in 1999.