MANILA. A United States Embassy official yesterday announced that Balikatan exercises, the joint military exercise between American and Filipino soldiers, will resume.

US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop made the confirmation a few days after the Philippine government turned over convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith to the custody of the US Embassy in Manila.

Lussenhop said that Balikatan exercises, that normally have about 500 participating American soldiers, will not be held in February but "will go forward."

"We leave it up to both the US and Philippine militaries to work out the details," he added.

The spokesman said that with the turnover of the convicted rapist to the custody of US Embassy, both parties are now in compliance with the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Atty. Eduardo Malaya confirmed the resumption of military exercises, saying that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US military authorities will make a simultaneous announcement on the dates and venue within this week or early next week.

Last month, the US government cancelled the war games with the Philippines due to the continued detention of a US Marine convicted of rape.