SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of angry South Koreans continued overnight rallies in central Seoul till Thursday morning, as their government pushed for the implementation of the controversial deal with the U.S. on the resumption of beef imports.

    Opponents called for the full renegotiation of the pact signed on the eve of the Camp David summit between President Lee Myung-bak and his counterpart George W. Bush in April.

Protesters struggle with riot police during a rally demanding the full-scale renegotiation of the U.S. beef import deal and the resignation of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Seoul June 26, 2008. South Korea will allow the resumption of U.S. beef imports starting Thursday, the ruling party said on Wednesday, implementing an unpopular deal that sparked street protests and caused a crisis for the government.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, about 2,000 protests, mostly candlelight vigils, against the beef deal in Seoul and some other cities have been largely peaceful.

    But some protesters clashed with riot police during the latest overnight demonstrations.

    They also hurled small sand-filled bags, rocks, and water bottles at riot police trying to block them from marching toward the presidential office.

    Police used water cannons briefly and fire extinguishers against demonstrators who used ropes to try to pull a police bus out of a barricade.

    More than 120 protesters were arrested. Some demonstrators and riot police were injured and sent to hospitals.

    Last week, South Korea secured the U.S. government assurances that the country's exporters will not send meat from cattle older than 30 months, seen as more at risk of the mad cow disease, to South Korea. but critics vowed to continue protests, saying the measure is not enough to ensure the safety of imported U.S. beef. 




S Korea vows stricter customs clearance for U.S. beef

    SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's customs authorities announced a set of measures Thursday to ensure the safety of U.S. beef. Full story

S Korean PM to deliver public statement over U.S. beef imports

   SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Prime Minister Han Seung-soo will issue a public statement Thursday to address local concerns over the safety of U.S. beef, officials said. Full story

S Korea President calls for ending dispute over U.S. beef safety

    SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bakon Thursday urged the country to end a protracted dispute over the safety of U.S. beef and launch efforts for economic revival. Full story

S Korean protesters block shipments of U.S. beef imports nationwide

   SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korean activists and unionists on Thursday blocked the distribution of U.S. beef stored at piers across the country, according to news reaching here from Busan, Incheon and Suwon. Full story

S Korea issues legal notice on new U.S. beef import
    SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea issued a legal notice Thursday, officially resuming imports of U.S. beef. According to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, U.S. beef -- including products that have been in frozen storage in South Korea since October last year -- will be inspected and goon sale beginning early next month. Full story

Opposition criticizes S Korean gov't's plan to enforce beef deal    

    SEOUL, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean opposition parties fiercely criticized government's decision to officially restart imports of U.S. beef Wednesday, vowing to continue the boycott, Yonhap news agency reported. Full story

S Korea to resume U.S. beef imports on Thursday
    SEOUL, June 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will start the procedure of U.S. beef imports on Thursday, the Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday. Full story

S Korean Constitutional Court to rule on petitions against U.S. beef   

    SEOUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Constitutional Court in South Korea will make a decision this week on the petitions aimed at scrapping a U.S. beef import agreement, Yonhap quoted its spokesman as saying Monday. Full story

S Korean PM requests stricter quarantine of U.S. beef    

    SEOUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Monday asked ministers to implement strict quarantine inspection of U.S. beef, according to the Yonhap news agency.  Full story

S Korean gov't not to rush implementation of U.S. beef import rules

    SEOUL, June 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's ruling party and the government said Sunday that they will postpone implementing new U.S. beef import rules for the time being as the public remains concerned over U.S. beef products, Yonhap news agency reported. Full story

S Korean public fear of U.S. beef not completely eased

   SEOUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Korea has been promised with extra health safeguards from the United States on beef imports, but it is still not clear whether the latest deal will completely eliminate public fear of American beef. Full story

S Korean presidential office says result of beef talks exceeds expectation

    SEOUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The office of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said on Saturday the result of the latest beef talks between South Korea and the United States exceeded previous expectations, expressing a wish that the newest deal would help end public distrust and concern over the safety of U.S. beef. Full story

S Korean PM applauds result of U.S. beef talks

SEOUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said Saturday that the result of additional beef talks between South Korea and the United States should pave the way for completely eliminating public fears of mad cow disease.Full story

S Korea, U.S. reach agreement on beef products 

    SEOUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the United States have agreed that the latter will certify that only beef from cattle less than 30 months old will be exported to the former, government sources said Saturday.Full story

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