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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| S Korea leader replaces top aides | S Korea leader replaces top aides |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has announced he is replacing several top aides, following public outcry over a beef import deal. | South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has announced he is replacing several top aides, following public outcry over a beef import deal. |
| Mr Lee said the decision to replace his chief of staff and six senior secretaries was aimed at giving his administration a fresh start. | Mr Lee said the decision to replace his chief of staff and six senior secretaries was aimed at giving his administration a fresh start. |
| Support for the new government has nosedived over its decision to resume imports of US beef. | Support for the new government has nosedived over its decision to resume imports of US beef. |
| Protesters say the deal fails to protect them from mad cow disease. | Protesters say the deal fails to protect them from mad cow disease. |
| US and South Korean officials are currently trying to come to an agreement | |
| South Korea used to be a major market for US beef, but suspended imports in 2003 after a case of the disease was identified there. | South Korea used to be a major market for US beef, but suspended imports in 2003 after a case of the disease was identified there. |
| The government's decision in April to lift the suspension sparked weeks of demonstrations. Scores of people have been arrested in occasionally violent clashes. | The government's decision in April to lift the suspension sparked weeks of demonstrations. Scores of people have been arrested in occasionally violent clashes. |
| Import limits | Import limits |
| Mr Lee announced the high-level replacements in a televised address - his second in two days. | Mr Lee announced the high-level replacements in a televised address - his second in two days. |
| On Thursday he formally apologised to the public for failing to address their concerns on the beef issue. Q&A: S Korea beef protests | On Thursday he formally apologised to the public for failing to address their concerns on the beef issue. Q&A: S Korea beef protests |
| The president said he had backed the beef deal to help secure passage of a bilateral free trade agreement that would boost the economy - but he added that he had acted "in a hurry". | |
| In a bid to defuse public anger, South Korea has asked the US to agree not to export beef from cattle aged over 30 months - which are thought to carry a higher risk of mad cow disease. | In a bid to defuse public anger, South Korea has asked the US to agree not to export beef from cattle aged over 30 months - which are thought to carry a higher risk of mad cow disease. |
| Negotiators from the two sides have held a week of talks on the issue in the US capital Washington. | |
| After a final meeting late on Thursday, they said they were close to a mutually-acceptable agreement. | After a final meeting late on Thursday, they said they were close to a mutually-acceptable agreement. |
| The talks yielded "considerable progress", South Korea's foreign ministry said, and "both sides neared mutually satisfactory results". | The talks yielded "considerable progress", South Korea's foreign ministry said, and "both sides neared mutually satisfactory results". |
| The envoys will now report back to their respective governments for further consultations, the ministry said, before the details were made public. | The envoys will now report back to their respective governments for further consultations, the ministry said, before the details were made public. |
| The number of protesters on the streets of Seoul has begun to fall since Mr Lee's government said it would seek import limits. | The number of protesters on the streets of Seoul has begun to fall since Mr Lee's government said it would seek import limits. |
| But beef is not the only problem facing the president. | But beef is not the only problem facing the president. |
| His administration is also facing 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. | His administration is also facing 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. | 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 rising inflation. | When he took office, he vowed to bring economic growth - but instead the country is battling a global downturn and rising inflation. |