Roh quits ruling party as meeting begins on nukes - Korean President

[dArKeR]

South Korean leader wants to launch new political force in bid to attract liberal voters.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun yesterday quit the ruling Millennium Democratic Party ahead of April's parliamentary elections.

The decision was widely expected after 37 lawmakers considered allies of Roh broke away from the party earlier this month and launched a new political group.

Roh did not want his party membership to become a political issue and wants to focus on state affairs, presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said. Roh didn't say whether he would join the new political group, Yoon said.

Roh won last December's presidential election as a candidate of the MDP, which was founded by his predecessor, Kim Dae-jung. Since his election, however, the MDP has been plagued by factional disputes over how to reform the scandal-ridden party ahead of the elections.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/Asia/2003/09/30/1064885678.htm

[LeftistGorilla]

1. Not a very stable...

time to be pulling such a move...