South Korean protesters demand U.S. military hand over soldiers

SEOUL, South Korea -- Protesters burned a giant American flag on Sunday, demanding that the U.S. military hand over two American soldiers whose armored vehicle allegedly hit and killed two South Korean teen-age girls last month.

Nearly 1,000 activists and students rallied near the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division base in Uijongbu, on the northern outskirts of Seoul, chanting, "We oppose the U.S. military!"

The demonstrators briefly scuffled with South Korean riot police who stopped them from entering the base to deliver a letter of protest.

No arrests or injuries were reported.

The protesters burned an American flag and then marched more than a mile toward a nearby train station, shouting anti-U.S. slogans and calling for the withdrawal of American troops from South Korean territory and for President Bush to apologize for the deaths.

Sgt. Mark Walker and Sgt. Fernando Nino, both from the 2nd Infantry Division, were on a training mission near the border with North Korea on June 13 when their armored bridge carrier allegedly struck and killed two 14-year-old girls on a public road.

The home towns of Walker and Nino have not been released.

Following days of anti-American demonstrations, the U.S. military said on July 5 it had filed negligent homicide charges against the two soldiers. That move reversed an earlier decision not to court-martial the soldiers.

The U.S. military is planning to hold a trial at a U.S. military court in South Korea. If convicted, the soldiers could face up to six years in prison.

However, South Korea's Justice Ministry last week requested that the U.S. military give up jurisdiction over the two soldiers. The U.S. military has yet to respond.

Under a bilateral treaty, the U.S. military can allow South Korea to try American soldiers involved in accidents while on duty. If convicted in a South Korean court, the soldiers could face up to five years in prison.

Occasional accidents and crimes by U.S. troops have prompted demands from South Korean activists that Washington give Seoul more legal power in cases involving American troops. Some activists have also demanded the withdrawal of the U.S. troops.

The Koreas were divided in 1945. About 37,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against communist North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.