S Koreans protest against US beef

The protests have taken the government by surprise

Tens of thousands of South Koreans have rallied against plans to import US beef again after a four-year suspension that followed a mad cow disease scare.

Protesters in Seoul lit candles, waved placards and chanted slogans attacking President Lee Myung-bak.

There have been weeks of protests, since the decision to reopen the US beef market in April.

It was closed in 2003 after the first US case of the disease was found in a Canadian-born cow in Washington state.

'Protecting my child'

Under the deal to reopen its market, Seoul agreed with Washington to accept all cuts of beef from cattle of all ages, while other US trading partners such as Japan still will not do so because of concerns over mad cow disease.

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Demonstrators hold a candlelit protest

Reports say Mr Lee has been caught by surprise by the protests and his popularity has plummeted in recent weeks.

The decision to begin quarantine inspections of US beef, announced during Mr Lee's visit to the US in April, was described by critics as a move to please Washington.

One protester - Chung Hye-ran, 38 - was quoted by Reuters as saying: "I came out here as a mother and as a member of the public to protect the health of my child and that of the people of this country."

Earlier on Saturday, about a dozen farmers in traditional funeral clothes marched to the protest site, carrying signs with anti-government slogans - along with the severed head of a cow.