Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- Candlelight rallies were staged in seven cities and counties in South Kyongsang Province of south Korea on November 16 to protest against the authorities' attempt to railroad the humiliating "motion calling for ratification of the U.S.-south Korea Free Trade Agreement". Those cities and counties included Kimhae, Milyang, Changwon and Kochang.

Present there were members of such civic and social organizations as the South Kyongsang Provincial Headquarters of the Movement for Checking the Conclusion of the south Korea-U.S. FTA and workers, farmers, intellectuals, youth and students and other people of different walks of life.

At the rallies speakers denounced the "government" and the "Grand National Party" for playing a double game to railroad the "motion".

They said that if the FTA is concluded, it would bring only death and poverty to the workers, farmers and other masses.

They strongly demanded that the present "government" pushing forward the conclusion of the FTA with the U.S. step down at once.

If the "government" and the GNP persistently try to railroad the treacherous agreement, the people will resist it at the risk of their lives by pooling their efforts, they warned.

Christians in south Korea, too, held a candlelight service in Seoul on November 17 to oppose the conclusion of the FTA with the U.S.