Protesters clash with riot police on sidelines of South Korea-US free-trade talks

By: Associated Press -
SEOGWIPO, South Korea -- South Korean protesters opposed to free trade with the U.S. clashed with police Tuesday near a seaside hotel where negotiators worked to get slow-moving talks back on track.
About 1,000 demonstrators, mostly farmers and laborers, tried to approach the hotel venue but were pushed back by police wielding riot shields and firing water cannons.
Police chased protesters and hit some with riot shields. Some protesters fought with batons they took from police. At least two demonstrators were taken away by ambulance.
Protesters and police had a smaller clash Monday, the first of five days of talks.
It is the fourth round since June of talks aimed at knocking down tariffs and opening markets between the world's largest economy and its tenth-largest.
South Korean rice and beef producers have especially opposed a deal, saying cheaper U.S. products would jeopardize their livelihoods.
The two sides have said they want to reach a deal by the end of this year, though the chief U.S. negotiator said Monday that the talks may drag into early next year.
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