GNP holds rally against MDP's election rigging

The main opposition Grand National Party held a rally of its party members on Tuesday to protest against the ruling Millennium Democratic Party`s alleged interference with the probes of its lawmakers` election expenses in front of MDP headquarters in Yeoui-do. Denouncing the Kim Dae-Jung ¡°regime¡± for covering up its election rigging, the opposition party demanded President Kim`s public apology and the resignation of the MDP leadership from parliamentary membership.

GNP president Lee Hoi-Chang asserted that his party had desperately protested the MDP`s election fraud, but the ruling party turned a deaf ear to the outcry. But now that the MDP`s election rigging has been made clear with its leaders` confessions, the GNP leader called upon the participants in the rally to advance in unity for the rectification of national order, upholding of the law and the realization of genuine democracy in the country.

At the rally, the GNP also adopted a resolution, demanding President Kim take action to deprive four MDP leaders -- chairman Suh Young-Hoon, secretary general Kim Ok-Doo, floor leader Chung Kyun-hwan and deputy secretary general Yoon Chul-Sang -- of their Assembly membership in connection with the election fraud scandal.

Meanwhile, MDP spokesman Park Byeong-Seuk countered that the GNP`s demand has trespassed beyond political ethics and democratic principles. Rather, he demanded GNP president Lee apologize for the fact that his party lawmakers hurled abusive remarks against Yoo Ji-Chan, chairman of the National Election Commission.