Hundreds hurt as South Korea beef protests continue

Seoul: South Korean protesters clashed with riot police on Sunday at a rally opposing the resumption of American beef imports, hours after the US secretary of state vouched for the health of US cattle.

About 15,000 people staged a street demonstration in Seoul on Saturday night, demanding the government withdraw its decision to lift a ban on US beef imports.

The rally turned violent after some protesters used ropes to try to drag away police buses used as barricades to prevent them from marching into the presidential Blue House.

Riot police immediately fired water cannons and sprayed fire extinguishers to repel them.

Angry protesters attacked police with steel pipes and stones, while police used clubs and shields against the crowd. The clash left several hundred protesters and riot police injured, according to local media reports.

Police said they also arrested about 50 protesters on charges of assaulting police and illegally occupying streets.

The beef issue topped the agenda when US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met South Korean officials during her visit to Seoul as part of an Asian tour. She flew to China on Sunday.

"I want to assure everyone that American beef is safe," she told a news conference with South Korea's foreign minister, Yu Myung-hwan. "We will continue to work with you to have consumer confidence in that matter."