SOUTH KOREA: UNITED STATES ARMY PLANE CRASH KILLS TWO SOLDIERS AS ANTI-U.S. PROTEST CONTINUE
Record ID:
646035
SOUTH KOREA: UNITED STATES ARMY PLANE CRASH KILLS TWO SOLDIERS AS ANTI-U.S. PROTEST CONTINUE
- Title: SOUTH KOREA: UNITED STATES ARMY PLANE CRASH KILLS TWO SOLDIERS AS ANTI-U.S. PROTEST CONTINUE
- Date: 13th August 2003
- Summary: (W4) SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AUGUST 12, 2003) (REUTERS) SLV PEOPLE CLAPPING AT ANTI-U.S. RALLY MV MODEL TANK MADE OUT OF PAPER BEING BROUGHT BY TWO DEMONSTRATORS; SCU U.S. FLAG ON TANK WITH SKULL AND CROSS BONES MV DEMONSTRATORS TRAMPLING DOWN MODEL TANK; DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING PLACARDS (4 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) CIVIC GROUP LEADER KIM PAN-TAE SAYING: "They put pressure on us (the students regarding the seizure of the U.S. tank), which was peaceful, taking advantage of the police force and public opinion. So we are holding a rally to show our will against the unfair pressure." SLV /SCU DEMONSTRATORS SHAKING FISTS AND SHOUTING SLOGANS (3 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 28th August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PYONGTAEK AND SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Accidents,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1R5GL4XOLWI0KD8SFT2LPONNS
- Story Text: US army plane crash kills two soldiers in South Korea as anti-U.S. protests continue.
A U.S. Army cargo plane crashed in a populated area of South Korea on Tuesday (August 12, 2003), killing at least two American soldiers.
The plane crashed in Pyongtaek, 40 km (24 miles) south of the capital Seoul, close to U.S. Army Camp Humphreys.
It was not clear how many U.S. military personnel were aboard the plane but the U.S. Army confirmed the plane was a C-12 Huron twin turboprop, capable of carrying passengers and cargo.
The United States has 37,000 troops in nearly 100 military bases in South Korea to deter any attack from communist North Korea.
Incidents and accidents involving the American military, who have been stationed there since the 1950-53 Korean War, have triggered protests by activists demanding a withdrawal of American forces.
About 400 students and civic group members gathered at a Seoul park near the American Embassy on Tuesday (August 12) in another anti-U.S.
rally.
Protesters waved fists and chanted anti-U.S slogans.
Recently a dozen student activists from an outlawed pro-North Korean student group tried to stop a military exercise training by the Stryker unit (tank unit) at a training site in Pochun, 50 km (30 miles) northeast of Seoul.
After learning that the unit had already been moved to a U.S. airbase, the protesters climbed atop a U.S. armoured vehicle and burned a U.S. flag. All of them were arrested by South Korean police.
In Tuesday's protests, the demonstrators brought out a model of a U.S.
Army Stryker and trampled on it.
Since their fellow protesters had been arrested, these people have held protest rallies in Seoul.
"They put pressure on (the students regarding the seizure of the U.S. tank), which was peaceful, taking advantage of the police force and public opinion. So we are holding a rally to show our will against the unfair pressure," said a civic group leader Kim Pan-tae.
On Monday, South Korean Prime Minister Goh Kun apologised to U.S.
military officials over the recent protest by the radical pro-North Korean student group tried to stop the recent military exercise. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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