SKorea's Lee apologises, urges MPs to pass US free trade pact

SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea's president apologised Thursday for failing to ease "mad cow" fears over US beef imports, but urged legislators quickly to pass a broader free trade pact with Washington.

"The government has not made enough effort to seek understanding and listen to public opinion (about the resumption of the beef imports)," Lee Myung-Bak said in a nationally televised statement following weeks of street protests.

"I express regret before the people."

Opposition lawmakers are refusing to ratify a sweeping free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States unless Lee renegotiates a separate deal reopening the Korean market to American beef.

They claim the government has not secured adequate safeguards against the dangers posed by the human form of mad cow disease. Thousands of protesters, often motivated by rumours on the Internet or mobile text messages, have staged street rallies against resumption of the imports.

On Thursday evening thousands of farmers rallied near parliament, denouncing Lee and opposing ratification of the trade pact. Police said the rally drew about 10,000 people.

The farmers waved placards and shouted slogans opposing the import of US beef and the trade pact as their leaders torched five paper mad cow replicas.

"From now on, the government will be more humble in approaching the people," said Lee, who was nicknamed "The Bulldozer" for his forceful style when he was a business executive.