A group of 20 civic organizations, including the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, held an anti-war demonstration in Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, opposite to the US Embassy, in central Seoul.

The vote on the troop-dispatch bill was delayed twice for the growing anti-war mood among local residents and lawmakers, despite two main parties instructed their members to support the motion.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun was scheduled to deliver a speech in front of the legislators of the National Assembly on Wednesday, and the ballots may be held after Roh's speech.

According to national news agency Yonhap News, Seoul National University's student council has decided to boycott classes Wednesday and hold rally in front of the National Assembly Hall to protest the war in Iraq.

In addition, some 1,000 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions was reportedly to stage an all-night vigil in front of the National Assembly Hall to against the passage of the troop dispatch motion.

Since the outbreak of the war last month, activists have staged demonstrations to protest the government's move to send army engineers and medical personnel to back the US-led war against Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2003)