Dozens hurt in farmer protests
From correspondents in Seoul
15nov05
DOZENS of people were hurt in violent clashes between police and South Korean farmers demonstrating against free trade policies ahead of this week's APEC summit, witnesses said.
Farmers carrying steel pipes and bamboo sticks clashed with riot police outside the National Assembly in Seoul and torched a police bus, as police used water cannon in a bid to drive them back.
Witnesses said dozens of people were hurt, with some bleeding from the head.
The farmers were demonstrating ahead of this week's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the South Korean port city of Busan, and as lawmakers considered a draft that would open South Korea's rice market.