University students and environmental activists unfurl banners in support of action against global warming during a protest in Manila on December 12, 2009. (AFP)

MANILA, December 12, 2009 (AFP) - Hundreds of protesters wearing red shirts banged on drums and bamboo poles and sang songs outside the Quezon City Hall on Saturday demanding global action on climate change.

"We're wearing red for 'red alert', to call attention to the world that time is running out," said Ali Obusan, a member of Greenpeace Philippines branch.

The group, mainly of students from several Manila universities, described the event as a "noise barrage" rally, held in support of efforts by world leaders meeting

in Copenhagen to craft a new global deal on curbing greenhouse gases. Once outside the city hall, they unfurled a banner that read "Climate Action Now".

Many in the crowd wore bandanas with the words "solar energy" on them while some dipped their hands in paint before making a print of a large plywood wall.

The city hall was shuttered for the weekend, but Obusan told AFP the local government gave the group a permit for a three-hour demonstration from 7:00 a.m. (2300 GMT Friday).

"This is an open space. So far we have received no complaints of noise pollution from nearby residents," she added.