Manila, Philippines ? Five left-wing lawmakers who took refuge in Congress for two months to avoid arrest on coup charges triumphantly walked out of the building today after a court dismissed the charges.

Hundreds of followers cheered the five lawmakers, who emerged from the House of Representatives with their fists raised in defiance, ending a two-month standoff with the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The lawmakers sought refuge in the building in February to avoid being arrested by police on charges that they conspired with more than 40 other people in a failed plot to overthrow Arroyo.

A Manila court on Thursday dismissed the rebellion charges against them and the more than 40 other left-wing activists, communist guerrillas, a former senator and renegade soldiers.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales at first insisted that the legislators still faced arrest because the case was dismissed on a technicality and could be revived.

However, he backed off Sunday and acknowledged that policemen could not arrest the five legislators unless the case is revived on appeal.