S. Korean Students Battle Seoul Police, Assail Roh Regime

Hundreds of firebomb-throwing radical students battled riot police for hours Saturday after the police used tear gas to keep the students from marching off a campus.

Riot police fired tear-gas canisters at about 500 students from a dozen Seoul universities when they tried to march out of Yonsei University after a pro-labor rally. Students then streamed out of the campus and battled riot police for several hours. No serious injuries or arrests were reported.

During the rally, student leaders denounced the government of President Roh Tae Woo as just another authoritarian regime. They had gathered to show support for workers who want higher wages and more independent unions. Labor disputes have increased sharply since Roh took office Feb. 25, as have protests by anti-government students.

Since his election Dec. 16, Roh has promised to better the lot of workers. But his government has also vowed to deal harshly with violent protests to ensure the country’s stability and steady economic development.