S Korea president sacks ministers

Lee has seen his popularity nosedive after winning December's elections

South Korea's president has sacked three cabinet ministers in the wake of protests over US beef imports.

Lee Myung-bak replaced his agriculture, health and education ministers in a bid to restore support for his flagging administration.

The government has been under intense pressure after signing a deal in April to lift a ban on imports of US beef.

Protesters took to the streets over fears the move could expose the country to mad cow disease.

Mr Lee has already publicly apologised for his handling of the issue, and replaced his top advisors.

In a BBC interview over the weekend, he admitted his government should have listened more to public concerns.

He also called for an end to the protest rallies, saying: "If the demonstrations continue, I do believe it will have a very detrimental effect on the future of the Korean economy."

Expected reshuffle

South Korea used to be a major market for US beef, but it suspended imports in 2003 after a mad cow disease outbreak.

President Lee Myung-bak says he plans to eat imported US beef

When the government decided to lift the ban, analysts say it underestimated the level of public concern over a return of the disease.

In the wake of the street protests, the South Korean government sought extra safety assurances from the US authorities on American beef.

It negotiated an amendment to the import deal last month, which limits shipments to beef from cattle younger than 30 months, believed less susceptible to mad cow disease.

But many in South Korea still feel the government has mishandled the crisis, and after only a few months in power, Mr Lee saw his popularity ratings plummet over the issue.

There was widespread expectation that he would sack some of his cabinet - in fact the whole cabinet offered to resign en masse last month.

"The reshuffle is aimed at making a new start in an effort to overcome difficulties at home and abroad," presidential spokesman Lee Dong-Kwan told AFP news agency.

Jang Tae-pyoung, former chief of a state anti-corruption panel, is due to take over as the new agriculture minister, ruling party lawmaker Jeon Jae-hee will head the welfare ministry and former university head Ahn Byong-man will become education minister.