South Korean police brace for large protest over US beef imports

Enlarge Photo South Korean police brace for large protest over US beef imports

Sat, Jul 5 01:04 PM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ South Korean police braced for yet another massive protest Saturday against U.S. beef imports, as pro-government groups planned a separate rally nearby calling for an end to weeks of often-violent anti-government demonstrations. Police said they expected Saturday's protest to be one of the biggest in recent weeks, and about 20,000 riot police would be deployed around the rally site near Seoul's city hall.

The biggest demonstration so far over concern about the safety of American beef imports drew a crowd estimated by police at about 80,000 on June 10. Protests were held near daily since early May after South Korea agreed to resume U.S. beef imports in April a move that sparked public outrage amid widespread concern over mad cow disease.

Unrelenting demonstrations forced the government to negotiate an amendment to the deal with Washington last month to limit shipments to beef from younger cattle, believed less susceptible to mad cow disease. Daily demonstrations, though on a smaller scale, have continued, however.

Protesters are now denouncing other policies of President Lee Myung-bak, including his plan to privatize state corporations. Lee, who took office in late February, apologized to the nation twice for mishandling the beef issue and replaced all his top advisers.

He is now mulling sacking some Cabinet ministers. A conservative group the Citizens' Alliance Against Excessive, Illegal Candlight Protests said on its Web site more than 1,000 people would stage a counter rally a few hundred yards (meters) away from the anti-government protest.

U.S. beef went on sale last week for the first time under the latest import deal. But it is not widely available because large supermarket chains and most restaurants are reluctant to sell or serve it for fear of a public backlash.

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