Roh Moo-hyun defiant despite vote threat

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 11, 2004

Roh Moo-hyun defiant despite vote threat

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has refused to apologize for his remarks that led to impeachment proceedings against him -- raising the possibility a move to unseat him would go ahead.

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South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has refused to apologize for his remarks that led to impeachment proceedings against him -- raising the possibility a move to unseat him would go ahead.

The major opposition parties wanted an apology to stop them going ahead with the vote by Friday.

In a major televised address on Thursday, Roh said he respected a National Election Commission ruling that he should not have backed the breakaway Uri Party in April's upcoming parliamentary elections, but said he didn't see it as grounds for impeachment.

"It the people want me to apologize, I can apologize twice or three times, but I don't know what I did wrong," Roh said.

"If there is a suggestion I should make an apology just to avoid the impeachment move, I cannot accept such a suggestion."

The two main opposition parties -- Grand National Party (GNP) and the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) -- that submitted the impeachment motion on Tuesday said they had enough members willing to back the vote.

To be debated, the motion needs the majority of the 273-seat assembly, while it needs a two-thirds majority to be passed.

"As of 8:00 p.m. (1100 GMT Wednesday), the number of National Assembly members supporting the impeachment motion has surpassed 181. The fate of President Roh has been sealed," GNP Floor Leader Hong Sa-Duk told reporters on Thursday.

The opposition parties are likely to push through with the vote after introducing the impeachment motion once the National Assembly opens at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Pak Jin, a parliamentary member with the GNP told CNN that Roh had made "another disappointing statement."

"Because of the lack of sincere regret ... sentiment will now gravitate towards impeachment."

The GNP and the MDP have until 6:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) Friday to vote before the impeachment measure expires.

Source: agencies

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