South Korea’s parliament impeached President Roh Moo-Hyun on Friday, suspending him from office amid chaotic scenes and thrusting the country into unprecedented economic and political uncertainty.Some 12,000 Roh supporters protested peacefully near the National Assembly Parliament building and the headquarters of the main Opposition Grand National Party.Roh apologised earlier for the unprecedented political crisis, but the Opposition said he was too late. Roh said he was heartbroken that a businessman had apparently killed himself after he mentioned his name in a briefing on Thursday at which he had refused to apologise for illegal electioneering. Another man was detained today after driving his car on to the steps of Parliament and setting the vehicle on fire.Roh’s powers are in limbo until the constitutional court rules on the vote, which the Opposition called after he broke an election law. That process could take up to six months, during which PM Goh Kun will run the country. ‘‘The world is watching us with anxiety and concern,’’ Goh said at his first Cabinet meeting as acting President. About 37,000 US troops are stationed in the country now.—Reuters
