S. Korea's ruling party sends lawmakers to US over beef imports

SOUTH KOREA: South Korean ruling party lawmakers left Monday for the United States to seek assurances that it will not export beef from older cattle in hopes of calming a domestic political crisis generated by fears of mad cow disease.

The trip to Washington comes amid South Korean media reports that President Lee Myung-bak's Cabinet could resign Tuesday because of the uproar over his government's agreement with the U.S. to resume American beef imports and the massive, sometimes violent rallies it has spawned in Seoul.

The Grand National Party delegation of four legislators and one party official will urge the U.S. to promise in writing that it will not export beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, said party spokesman Hwang Cheon-mo.

Older cows are considered at greater risk of mad cow disease, a brain-wasting cattle sickness. South Korea has asked Washington to refrain from exporting meat from older cattle despite an April agreement that allows it.

Seoul's presidential office said Saturday that U.S. President George W. Bush pledged in a phone conversation with his South Korean counterpart to work out unspecified measures banning the export of meat from older cattle.

Seoul, Monday, AP