National Assembly Stalls S. Korea's Aid for U.S. War Effort

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 26, 2003

National Assembly Stalls S. Korea's Aid for U.S. War Effort

South Korean National Assembly dealt new President Roh Moo Hyun an unexpected setback Tuesday by stalling his request to send 700 South Korean engineers and medics to help in the war against Iraq.

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South Korean National Assembly dealt new President Roh Moo Hyun an unexpected setback Tuesday by stalling his request to send 700 South Korean engineers and medics to help in the war against Iraq.

The request still is likely to pass, according to political observers. But the assembly's unexpected opposition was a sign of the depth of public disfavor toward the U.S. action in the Middle East.

Public polls have shown high opposition in South Korea to supporting the U.S. attack in Iraq. A crowd estimated at a few thousand people demonstrated outside the assembly building Tuesday, continuing a series of small, regular protests.

But political chieftains of Roh's party and the opposition party had agreed with the president's decision to support the United States as a loyal ally. A revolt by legislators concerned by the public mood delayed the vote until after April 2, when Roh is scheduled to lay out his arguments in a speech to the National Assembly.

South Korea is a key Asian ally to the United States, but relations have been troubled by public resentment toward U.S. troops and the U.S. administration. Roh took office one month ago after a campaign critical of South Korea's unswerving support of Washington.

But after what was reported to be a difficult debate, Roh decided last week to support the Iraqi invasion with a small force of non-combatants. The vote scheduled for Tuesday had been considered a formality.

Source: Agencies

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