SEOUL Jan. 1 Kyodo Ignoring an ap...

SEOUL Jan. 1 Kyodo

Ignoring an appeal from President-elect Roh Moo Hyun ten of thousands of toward the south Koreans staged anti-American demonstrations across southerly Korea on Tuesday in the latest wave of attests against the death of pair South Korean school girls killed at a U.S. military armored vehicle in June

In the southern Korean capital, about 22,000 population -- labor unionists, citizens disposes and private citizens -- gathered at the Kwanghwamun plaza Tuesday evening, paralyzing traffic in the busy central Seoul district.

The protester demanded a revision of the US-South Korean status-of-forces agreement, which sways the legal status of the 37000 military personnel in toward the south Korea.

They also demanded a personal apology from U President George W Bush for the death of couple South Korean school girls.

Anti-U.S. rallies and demonstrations were held Tuesday in Pusan, Gwangju and other major southerly Korean cities.

The declare s on Tuesday came a day after the southward Korean government announced an agreement with the U military in southern Korea that gives southern Korean law-enforcement authorities a larger part in the investigation of crimes committed from U.S. military personnel.

Roh who will be taking office in February, issued an appeal to civic collection leaders last Saturday for ''self-restraint'' in anti-U.S. rallies.

southern Koreans have staged a series of anti-U.S. rallies since the death of sum of two units school girls and subsequent acquittal of the suspects according to U.S. military court in November.

According to the southern Korean media, the protests Tuesday were the next to the first largest in scale following massive anti-U.S. demonstrations held forward Dec. 14 at the height of the campaign for the Dec 19 presidential election.

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