Bush's pledge fails to calm SKorea's beef protests

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

SEOUL (AFP) — Street protests against US beef imports showed no sign of abating on Sunday despite President George W. Bush's pledge to help ease South Koreans' concerns over mad cow disease.

Thousands of protesters clashed with riot police in central Seoul in demonstrations that ran into the early hours of Sunday morning. At least 11 people were arrested.

Clashes eased as dawn broke but about 1,500 hardcore protesters were still on the streets urging President Lee Myung-Bak's government to renegotiate a deal reached in April to fully open its markets to US beef.

Protest organisers, who arranged the rally and march involving an estimated 40,000 people in downtown Seoul Saturday are pushing for an even bigger candlelit vigil on Tuesday.

President Bush...