Pyongyang, August 18 (KCNA) -- The August 15 meeting for independent reunification was held in Seoul on August 15. It was co-sponsored by the Solidarity for Progress, the preparatory committee for the Meeting of People for Building New Society, the Democratic Labor Party and other civic and public organizations and political parties of south Korea.

It was attended by more than 10 000 people from all walks of life.

At the meeting speakers said they were holding the August 15 meeting for independent reunification despite the vicious obstructions of the authorities. How can people expect the authorities to work for peaceful reunification as they are crying out for "elimination of pro-north leftist forces" quite contrary to the desire of the people for reunification, they queried.

Now is the time for the people to pool their strength, they said, calling for pooling the resolution of the people to oust the present regime and ushering in the era of independent and peaceful reunification.

An appeal was read out at the rally. It condemned the authorities for still clinging to the policy of confrontation with fellow countrymen.

If the authorities persistently deny peace and keep to the road of confrontation with the north, the people should turn out in a protest action across south Korea and once again demonstrate their will, the appeal said.

They will fight on to get the authorities roll back the policy of confrontation with the DPRK and protect peace, it noted.

The fascist police encircled the venue of the meeting with police buses, shouting "Disperse!" They ran riot, firing water guns at the masses.