AP News, December 14th, 2007
South Korean lawmakers came to blows in parliament Friday, and at least one was carried from the building on a stretcher, as two political parties fought over control of the speaker's podium.
Members of the main opposition Grand National Party clashed with pro-government United New Democratic Party lawmakers over bills to impeach three prosecutors who investigated a leading GNP presidential candidate, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.
GNP lawmakers tried to block access to the speaker's podium in the National Assembly using sofas, metal bars and chains, while their UNDP rivals used their hands and power saws to hack through the barriers, Yonhap said. About 100 lawmakers were involved, the report said.
Several lawmakers scuffled at the podium and one, who appeared to have been knocked unconscious, was carried from the hall on a stretcher. Yonhap said the injured man was a member of the Grand National Party. No details were provided on his injuries or condition.
Lawmakers behind the impeachment motion allege prosecutors concealed the involvement of Lee Myung-bak — a GNP candidate who is widely expected to win a Dec. 19 presidential vote — in a 2001 stock manipulation and embezzlement case, Yonhap said. They want the prosecutors to be impeached and the probe to be reopened.
GNP lawmakers had occupied the Assembly since Thursday to try to stop their rivals from pushing the bills through.
Speaker Lim Chae-jung issued a direct order to bypass the disrupted plenary session and said he expected parliament to vote on the bills by midday Monday, Yonhap said.
