South Korea

South Korea clamps down on protesters

Article published on the 2008-08-05 Latest update 2008-08-05 09:13 TU

President George Bush and his wife before they left for Asia.
(Photo : Reuters)

South Korea is deploying more than 20,000 police to prevent protesters opposed to American beef imports from disrupting a visit later today by President George Bush. The US leader will hold talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, before flying to Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Lee's decision to lift a five-year ban on US beef has sparked a massive backlash in the country, with demonstrators saying the agreement does not protect them against mad cow disease, or BSE.

As well as the recent controversy over beef imports, Bush is also expected to discuss efforts to end North Korea's nuclear weapons drive and free-trade legislation with Lee.

Protests over the beef imports had started to die down, after Seoul won some promises of safeguards from Washington that meat from older cattle would not be exported to South Korea.

However, organisers say they expect at least 10,000 people to attend a rally tonight in Seoul.

US beef imports resumed on 29 July, although many larger South Korean shops and restaurants still refuse to serve the meat.

The US president is later set to deliver a major foreign policy speech in Thailand, where he is expected to condemn the military government of Myanmar, for human rights abuses.

He will then go on to the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing.