Scuffles, tear gas fill South Korea parliament

  • 13 years ago
South Korea's ruling conservatives push a controversial free trade deal with the United States through parliament on as legislators scuffle and one opposition MP lets off a teargas device, briefly clearing the chamber.
The deal, which economists believe could boost the $67 billion in annual trade between the two countries by as much as a quarter, had been stalled in the Korean parliament as the government shied away from forcing it through for fear of violent confrontations in the legislature.
The bill was passed with an overwhelming majority as most members of the opposition Democratic Party abstained from the vote.