Seoul Students Hurl Bombs, Rocks at Police
Radical students hurled hundreds of firebombs and rocks at riot police today in vicious street fighting in Seoul. Thousands of students took part in protests across the country.
“Down with the military dictatorship! Freedom!” masked students yelled as they pelted police at close range with firebombs that exploded in showers of blazing gasoline and flying shards of glass.
Hundreds of riot police fought back with tear gas and rocks.
Several officers caught fire, but other police quickly doused the flames and the padded uniforms appeared to have prevented serious injury. There was no word on student injuries or arrests.
Students demanding the immediate overthrow of President Chun Doo Hwan staged rallies at 40 campuses across the nation, according to Yonhap, the South Korean news agency.
Radical students have vowed to topple the Chun government despite his acceptance of opposition demands for direct elections and other reforms.
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