In pictures: Seoul beef protest

At least 20,000 people in Seoul have taken part in a protest against a government plan to resume US beef imports.

They say the move does not protect consumers against mad cow disease, which was detected in a Canadian-born cow in the US in 2003.

Seoul's beef market was closed to US imports in 2003 following the discovery of the brain-wasting disease. Prior to that it was the US beef farmers' third biggest export market.

Tensions rose as police blocked the crowd from marching on the Blue House, the president's official Seoul residence.

More than 200 of the protesters were detained as they clashed with police.

Police deployed water cannon in three areas to try to disperse the crowds.

Dozens of people were hurt, but none were reported to have been seriously injured.

Angry South Koreans have held almost daily rallies on the issue for a month.

Polls say the popularity of President Lee Myung-Bak has plummeted in the wake of the decision.

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