Thousands of protesters clashed with riot police at the site of the planned new headquarters for the U.S. military in South Korea at a demonstration against the troops' move here from the capital, Seoul. Some 7,000 demonstrators threw steel pipes and stones at about 10,000 police guarding Camp Humphreys in Pyongtaek, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Seoul. Some demonstrators were seen bleeding but the number of injured wasn't immediately known, The Associated Press reported. "The government made an agreement with the United States without consensus from the residents," said one protester, Oh Jeong-sun, 56. "No matter how much the government compensates me, I will not leave here." The U.S. military in South Korea is now headquartered at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, but is set to move its entire command to Pyongtaek by 2008 as part of plans to consolidate bases and reduce the number of U.S. troops. About 32,500 American troops are now deployed in South Korea, but that number will eventually drop to 24,500. Meanwhile, a group supporting the relocation also held a rally in Pyongtaek that drew about 500 people, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
