About 5,000 protesters reportedly clashed with riot police on Wednesday [AFP]

South Korea has lifted a ban on US beef imports despite violent protests against the move.

The government implemented a controversial agreement with Washington to resume the imports on Thursday even though thousands staged a rally on Wednesday.

Weeks of protests - rooted in concerns over importing meat contaminated by mad cow disease - have mushroomed into calls for the country's president to resign.

Protesters scuffled with riot police wielding truncheons and shields blocking the way to the presidential Blue House on Wednesday. Dozens were detained.

Now that the deal has become legal, some 5,300 tonnes of US beef that have been in frozen storage in the country for months is expected to be inspected before heading to the stores.

Officials on Wednesday, however, said they do not expect importers to rush the meat out.

Modified deal

South Korean and US negotiators said over the weekend that they had reached a private-sector deal to restrict US beef exports to meat from cattle under 30 months old.

Protesters have taken to the streets almost nightly in recent weeks [AFP]

The agreement also forbids exports of parts that are thought to pose a higher risk of mad cow disease.
 
South Korean officials said the reworked pact would increase safety checks on US beef, but protesters have vowed to keep rallying until the original beef deal is scrapped or completely renegotiated.

Last week, Lee Myung-bak, the South Korean president, apologised for the original agreement, promised a fresh start for his four-month-old government and sacked most of his top aides.

But earlier this week he also ordered tough action against protesters who break the law.

Lim Eun-young, a protester, said the president was forcing the implementation of the deal despite his nationally televised apology.

"Obviously the president is not listening to us at all."

Another protester, Shin Gae-young, said he was angry with the government for ignoring the people.

"A few days ago, the government said it will postpone publishing the legal notice for the resumption ... however, it made the decision so urgently without collecting public sentiment," he said.

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