The ruling and opposition parties Wednesday urged Huh Joon-young, commissioner-general of the National Policy Agency, to resign over the deaths of two farmers caused by tough crackdown of riot police.

On Thursday, President Roh Moo-hyun made an apology one day after the National Human Rights Commission announced that the two farmers, Chon Yong-chol and Hong Tok-pyo, were presumed to have died due to police brutality during the clash on Nov. 15.

President Roh, however, refrained from making any specific remarks whether the police chief should resign. He said he does not consider he is authorized to fire Huh under the current system, which guarantees the top police officer a two-year tenure.

Huh made a similar public apology in a separate news conference in the same day, but showed no intention of heeding the call to step down.

Rep. Oh Young-sik, vice floor leader of the ruling party, said after the party’s general meeting of lawmakers, ``Some party officials expressed an opinion that the police chief’s decision was not appropriate.’’

He added many lawmakers of the party agreed to strongly request the government, especially the police, to show more responsibility over the issue.

Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, chairman of the party, also said, ``We agree that the exercise of public power should be done in a very careful and serious manner. If such principles are not kept properly, those in charge will have to take responsibility in the aftermath.’’

``It’s quite frustrating and sad to hear about the deaths of the two farmers as human right issues have been the top priority of the incumbent government,’’ Chung said. ``I feel sorry for the bereaved families and hope the situation will be resolved soon.’’

Sources at the ruling party said the party decided to put pressure on Huh on behalf of Chong Wa Dae to remove the presidential office from involvement in conflicts with the police.

Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP) claimed the National Assembly should impeach the police chief at the Assembly session which ends on Jan. 10 next year.

``What I’m concerned about is not just the police, whose brutality killed two farmers, and the weak-kneed Roh administration, but the lack of compassion in society,’’ the DLP lawmaker said.

The DLP has threatened the ruling party that it will not cooperate with the ruling camp in dealing with the government’s budget proposal for next year and other key pending bills, unless Huh tenders his resignation.

Rep. Lee Nak-yon of the minor opposition Democratic Party (DP) urged President Roh to immediately dismiss the police chief.

``Even under the dictatorships in the past, there have been no other incidents of such brutality,’’ he said. ``The apology made by the president and the police chief made the situation even worse. If President Roh procrastinates from firing Huh, it’ll make the situation irrevocably worse.’’

Thousands of farmers gathered in Yoido, Seoul, on Nov. 15 to hold a rally opposing the government’s decision to open the nation’s rice market wider to foreign suppliers. It turned violent and left many farmers as well as policemen wounded.

Chon, 43, of South Chungchong Province, collapsed at his home the day after the demonstration. He underwent brain surgery, but died six days later.