Anti-US beef protests and arrests in Seoul

They fired water cannon and arrested more than 200 of the protesters, who say the move does not protect consumers against mad cow disease.

At least 20,000 people gathered in Seoul for the latest in a month-long series of rallies on the issue.

Polls say the popularity of President Lee Myung-Bak has plummeted.

The worst clashes occurred when some protesters tried to march toward the presidential residence, the Blue House.

Police deployed water cannon in three areas to try to disperse the crowds. Dozens of people were hurt.

Some say that it’s the biggest demonstration since the June Great Struggle in 1987 that expelled the military dictatorship in South Korea.

The professors’ union issued a statement, criticizing the government’s lack of philosophy and willingness to take responsibility for the state of affairs. ``We think that the current situation is similar to that of June ,1987, but the government appears not to recognize this.” Members of a progressive veterans’ association held a press conference in front of the building of the Ministry of National Defense, urging the ministry not to serve beef from cattle suspected to be tainted by mad cow disease to soldiers. In a press conference held in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, more than 20 pastors of Protestant organizations denounced the government’s announcement of conditions of beef imports and began a hunger strike that will continue indefinitely.

About 30,000 citizens across the nation took part in the candlelight vigils held shortly after the government’s announcement on May 29. They censure the government by staging street marches till late at night.

In the wake of opening the nation’s market to most U.S. beef cuts,South Korea’s three opposition parties called on all Cabinet ministersto resign in order to take the responsibility of failing to addresspublic concerns over mad cow disease.

The joint move was agreed upon on May 30 after a meeting with floorleaders and chief policymakers of the three parties - the UnitedDemocratic Party, the Liberty Forward Party and the Democratic LaborParty - as the new National Assembly was seated. In addition, theydemanded that President Lee Myung-bak, who returned from his visit toChina later in the day, hold a meeting with leaders of the threeopposition parties to discuss pending issues, including the beefcontroversy.