Agencies

Seoul, March 12:

President Roh Moo-hyun was stripped of his constitutional powers in an unprecedented impeachment vote today that rattled an embattled South Korean government already struggling to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis and reboot a struggling economic recovery ahead of next month’s general elections.

The vote came after hours of scuffles and protests that included one Roh supporter setting himself on fire and another man trying to drive his car up the parliament steps and into the building.

After the decision, South Korea’s main stock index tumbled five per cent, and the nation’s military and police forces were set on heightened vigilance. Among Roh’s suspended duties was his role as commander in chief.

The pro-Roh Uri Party, which had tried to physically block the vote by commandeering the National Assembly podium from which votes are called, announced that its 47 lawmakers would resign en masse to protest.

The vote marked a spectacular setback for the 57-year-old, self-made human rights lawyer who came to office last February on a populist ticket that promised South Koreans better relations with communist North Korea and a more equal footing with the country’s biggest ally, the United States.

His 13-month tenure was dogged by corruption scandals. However, today’s vote was a crowning embarrassment for the feisty, independent leader.

It was the first time South Korea’s parliament has impeached a president.

The matter now goes to the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to approve or reject

Roh’s ouster. In a three-line statement issued by Roh’s presidential office, the administration said it would subject itself to “the judgment of history and the people” and hoped that the Constitutional Court “will make a quick decision to minimise confusion in state affairs.”

Roh said he expected to regain back office and was confident the Constitutional Court would reverse the impeachment vote against him.

Chief Justice Yoon Young-chul could not say when hearings would begin. But he called the

impeachment “a matter of grave consequence” and pledged to handle it “in a speedy and precise manner.”

Prime Minister Goh Kun, who would formally assume Roh’s duties later today, instructed the Defense Ministry to heighten its military vigilance along the heavily fortified inter-Korean border, where North and South Korea have had thousands of troops dug in since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Tensions are running high amid the deepening international standoff over North Korea’s nuclear weapons development, but the ministry said today it detected no unusual North Korean military movements.

“The people feel unease because the impeachment bill was passed at a time that the economy faces difficulties,” Goh said.

“The Cabinet and all government officials must do all they can to stabilize the people’s lives and ensure that the country’s international credibility will not be damaged.”

Goh also issued a statement saying it was “deplorable that this kind of incident has happened” and that he “cannot but feel sorry to the nation that the situation has reached the point it has.”