More clashes at Daewoo plant

The workers have been attacking police with metal pipes

Angry Daewoo Motor workers in South Korea staged another day of clashes with riot police on Tuesday protesting at job layoffs.

Hundreds of riot police were forced back as 2,000 workers hurled firebombs and wielded metal pipes as they marched on the main Daewoo Motor plant at Pupyong, west of the capital Seoul.

The protestors set ablaze at least two police vehicles, witnesses said, as police fought back with clubs and shields.

Police stormed the plant on Monday, arresting protestors

The violence came a day after some 4,000 riot police stormed the plant to end a sit-in by workers who were protesting against massive lay-offs by the bankrupt car manufacturer.

Several hundred union leaders had been staging a rally inside the plant since last week when the company issued redundancy notices to 1,750 workers.

Hunting leader

Police said they had detained 84 Daewoo Motor workers but were still hunting Kim Il-Sup, the union leader who led the protests.

The job losses were forced on Daewoo by an order from Korean court receivers demanding 6,000 jobs be cut abroad, and 6,800 in Korea.

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung said at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the layoffs at bankrupt Daewoo Motor were inevitable to save the company.

"It is heartbreaking that people are losing jobs due to Daewoo Motor's problem, but Daewoo Motor might have had to shut its doors without such a decision and pain, which would have deprived all workers of their jobs," he said.

Buyer talks

Daewoo collapsed in August 1999 with debts of $80bn and was declared bankrupt three months ago.

US car maker General Motors (GM) began talks with Daewoo in September to take over the troubled firm, but little headway was made.

On Tuesday Commerce and Industry Minister, Shin Kook-Hwan, called for new talks:

"As the government lays the groundwork for Daewoo Motor's normalisation, I expect GM to come out to resume the talks by the end of this month," he said.