They included the South Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's Reunification, the Confederation of Trade Unions, the Federation of Peasants Associations, the Missionary Solidarity Council of Christian Society, the Buddhist Peace Solidarity and the Federation of University Students.

They urged the authorities to remove the office and opt for achieving reconciliation and cooperation and building peace mechanism.

The Measure Committee of Civic and Public Organizations against Suppression under the Pretext of Public Security, the Association for Supporting Prisoners of Conscience of the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy, the Christian Pastors' Group for Peaceful Action, the Korea Solidarity for Independent Reunification and Democracy and other organizations held a meeting outside the U.S. embassy demanding the dismantlement of the UN office and the resignation of the chief executive.

A statement was read out at the meeting.

The statement urged the authorities to close the office as it fans up the confrontation of social systems and deteriorates the inter-Korean relations and to step down at once.

The Korea Solidarity for Independent Reunification and Democracy said in a press release that all people are indignant at the authorities' acts of wholeheartedly welcoming the establishment of the office, while keeping mum about anthrax germs.

The authorities are bound to meet history's stern judgment for their crimes against the nation and reunification.