Anti-US beef protests continue in South Korea

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-01 17:06

SEOUL -- Organizers said thousands of South Koreans were to hold another massive protest in downtown Seoul Sunday against the impending resumption of US beef imports despite the police crackdown, Yonhap news agency reported.

About 40,000 people gathered in front of City Hall Saturday for the largest rally since candlelight vigils started in early May.

Hundreds who continued protesting until early Sunday morning and tried to march toward the presidential office were forcefully dispersed by the police.

Up to 100 citizens and 40 policemen were injured in the clashes, with a male citizen reportedly suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.

Witnesses said many citizens were seen bleeding and limping after the clashes with police, Yonhap said.

A total of 228 protesters were hauled away by police, with the total number of detainees since the start of the protests reaching over 460.

On April 18, Seoul agreed to permit imports of all beef regardless of the age of cattle, except for high-risk parts such as tonsils, brains and spinal cords, for the first time in almost five years.

It had banned imports in 2003 following the first US case of mad cow disease.

Although the South Korean government has been assuring the public that US beef is safe to eat, concerns have been growing following some sensational media reports and opponent parties' move to use the deal as political leverage against the newly launched government.

Anger has intensified since Thursday when the government started a legal process to put the new import terms into effect. Imports are expected to resume as early as this month.

President Lee, who won the December election in a landslide, has been suffering from dwindling popularity of below 30 percent amid the beef dispute.