By Xinhua,
Seoul : In the first major clampdown on protesters after a U.S. beef import deal took effect, Seoul police arrested at least 125 people during mass demonstrations that continued into early Monday.
South Korean news agency reported that about 1,700 people gathered at Jongno street in central Seoul at 9 p.m. Sunday and hundreds of them stayed into the early morning hours, chanting slogans such as “Renegotiate the beef deal” and “Lee Myung-bak out.”
The protesters rallied in several groups, unable to enter their usual protest venue at Seoul City Hall plaza, which was sealed off by police buses.
Police took about 70 people into custody early Monday for illegally occupying roads. But no major clashes occurred.
Hundreds of protesters and police officers were injured during Saturday’s demonstrations where about 18,000 people — 100,000 according to organizers — participated in the largest gathering since June 10.
Police fired water cannons and fire extinguishers and used batons against protesters who hurled water bottles and eggs at them and tried to pull away police buses with ropes.
South Korea last week lifted bans on U.S. beef imports and began quarantine inspections of American meat that has been in storage since imports were suspended in October.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said inspectors have started to screen frozen U.S. beef packages with X-ray machines to check for unauthorized materials. The meat could be on store shelves as early as this week.