Thousands of anti-impeachment demonstrators streamed into the streets of Seoul yesterday, as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea asked that economic talks with the South be switched to the North because of "uncertainty" over the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun.

　　Dubbed by some as a "coup without guns," the opposition-controlled parliament stunned the nation on Friday by impeaching Roh on charges of violating election rules and incompetence.

　　Meanwhile, rival North Korea - in a veiled reference to the historic move to oust Roh - expressed concern over a "very unstable" political situation and "unprecedented confusion" in the South.

　　The North requested that a round of inter-Korean economic talks, scheduled to begin yesterday in the South, be switched to the Northern city of Kaesong, according to an official North Korean radio broadcast monitored by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

　　South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said it was unclear whether the talks would still go ahead. It said it would ask the North to stick to the original plan.

　　Prime Minister Goh Kun has assumed executive powers and the Constitutional Court will rule whether the impeachment of Roh was constitutional. It will meet on Thursday to review the case.

　　Preparing for the country's first impeachment trial, Roh tapped a former adviser on civil affairs, Moon Jae-in, to put together a legal team to defend the president, Roh spokesman Yoon Tae-young said.

　　Opinion polls show that about seven in 10 South Koreans oppose the impeachment and that support for the minority Uri Party backing Roh has also only increased in its wake.

　　About 20,000 protesters thronged downtown Seoul yesterday night, according to police. The evening before, 50,000 came to sing songs, wave candles and hold placards reading: "Defend Democracy!"

　　The movement against Roh's impeachment has found support not only among his political backers but also from civic groups that have criticized alleged corruption in Roh's administration, his decision to send troops to Iraq and his recent tussle with authorities over illegal campaign funds ahead of next month's parliamentary elections.

　　The protests have been mostly peaceful.

　　(The Associated Press)