By Xinhua,
Seoul : Police in Seoul said they detained two dozens of protesters Wednesday morning at one of the busiest intersections in Seoul after an overnight rally.
A large candlelight demonstration against the government’s U.S. beef import deal was held late Tuesday night in the capital. It drew at least 80,000 citizens — 700,000 according to organizers –the largest turnout since U.S. beef protests started in central Seoul in early May, according to the Yonhap news agency.
No major clashes occurred during the demonstration, but hundreds of people, mostly members of the Korean Metal Workers Union, continued occupying the street through the morning rush hour despite a police order for them to disperse, Yonhap said.
Police said they detained 24 people, including five women, for occupying the Sejong-no street.
They protest against the government’s decision in April to lift almost all bans on U.S. beef imports. The protesters called for renegotiation of the U.S. beef pact to protect South Koreans from the threats of mad cow disease.