The Hindu : Seoul sending more troops to Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004

International

International

Seoul sending more troops to Iraq

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, MARCH 16. The South Korea's Acting President, Goh Kun, today ordered preparations for the despatch of 3000 additional troops, including combat-ready personnel, to Iraq.

He wanted the crisis-hit South Korean Government to maintain the momentum of "multilateral consultations'' on the North Korean nuclear-weapons `programme'.

Presiding over a Cabinet meeting, for the first time after assuming executive powers following the impeachment and suspension of Roh Moo-hyun as President, Mr. Goh said in Seoul today that "the whole world is closely watching the (South) Korean situation with some worries, while our people are swept by concerns and anxiety''.

It was against this background that Mr. Goh said it was business as usual for his interim administration. Mr. Goh also retained his position as Prime Minister.

The South Korean Government said "the initial instability in markets'', following Mr. Roh's impeachment, was quickly reversed.

This, Mr. Goh claimed, was the result of the administration's swift action in the wake of the unprecedented presidential impeachment.

Mr. Goh's assurances of continuity and stability in policies, while being addressed to the international community, are being viewed in an altogether different light in South Korea itself.

An issue under debate there relates to the extent of power he could exercise as a transitional chief executive in the extraordinary situation.

The country's Constitutional Court is now seized of the issue whether Mr. Roh should be indicted or allowed to resume office as President.

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