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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| S Korea and US 'near beef deal' | S Korea and US 'near beef deal' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Officials from South Korea and the US say they are close to an agreement on a beef import deal that has triggered mass protests in Seoul. | Officials from South Korea and the US say they are close to an agreement on a beef import deal that has triggered mass protests in Seoul. |
| South Korea wants the US to agree not to export beef from cattle aged over 30 months, in a bid to ease public concern over mad cow disease. | South Korea wants the US to agree not to export beef from cattle aged over 30 months, in a bid to ease public concern over mad cow disease. |
| After a week of talks in the US, the two sides said that they were nearing a mutually acceptable way forward. | After a week of talks in the US, the two sides said that they were nearing a mutually acceptable way forward. |
| South Korea's government hopes a deal will defuse public anger on the issue. | South Korea's government hopes a deal will defuse public anger on the issue. |
| Protesters say the decision in April to resume US beef imports - suspended in 2003 after a case of mad cow disease - fails to protect their health. | Protesters say the decision in April to resume US beef imports - suspended in 2003 after a case of mad cow disease - fails to protect their health. |
| Support for President Lee Myung-bak and his government has nosedived over the issue. | Support for President Lee Myung-bak and his government has nosedived over the issue. |
| 'Progress' | 'Progress' |
| South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and US Trade Representative Susan Schwab have held several meetings over the last week in a bid to defuse the crisis. | South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and US Trade Representative Susan Schwab have held several meetings over the last week in a bid to defuse the crisis. |
| South Korea's foreign ministry said "considerable progress was made and both sides neared mutually satisfactory results" at the talks. | |
| class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7457087.stm">Q&A: S Korea beef protests A spokeswoman for the US side, meanwhile, said the two sides were "close to reaching a mutually acceptable path forward". | |
| The envoys will now report back to their respective governments for further consultations, the South Korean statement said. | The envoys will now report back to their respective governments for further consultations, the South Korean statement said. |
| On Thursday, Mr Lee said he was "deeply sorry" for ignoring public concern over the beef deal. | On Thursday, Mr Lee said he was "deeply sorry" for ignoring public concern over the beef deal. |
| In a televised address, the new president said he had backed the deal to help secure passage of a bilateral free trade agreement that would boost South Korea's economy. | In a televised address, the new president said he had backed the deal to help secure passage of a bilateral free trade agreement that would boost South Korea's economy. |
| He promised that "US beef older than 30 months will not be put on our dinner tables as long as people don't want it". | He promised that "US beef older than 30 months will not be put on our dinner tables as long as people don't want it". |
| Older beef is thought to be at greater risk of BSE. | Older beef is thought to be at greater risk of BSE. |
| On Thursday, President Lee Myung-bak apologised on televisionSouth Korea has seen weeks of street demonstrations and candlelight rallies over the issue. Scores of people have been arrested in occasionally violent clashes. | |
| But the number of protesters has begun to fall since Mr Lee's government said it would seek import limits. | But the number of protesters has begun to fall since Mr Lee's government said it would seek import limits. |
| This is not the only problem facing the president, though. His administration is also facing paralysing strikes from long-haul lorry drivers, construction industry workers and members of the militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions who oppose his plans for privatisation and pension reform. | |
| Mr Lee could also face a backlash over worsening economic conditions. | |
| When he took office, he vowed to bring economic growth - but, instead, the country is battling a global downturn and surging inflation. |