By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun will on Saturday declare as law a special prosecutor bill sanctioning an investigation into allegations of corruption by his former associates, Presidential Spokesman Yoon Tai-young said on Friday.

``The government will hold a Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Roh, to deal with the independent counsel bill,’’ Yoon said.

The declaration will pave the way for the National Assembly to push forward with the appointment of a special prosecutor and launch an investigation into alleged financial irregularities by Roh’s confidants for up to 90 days.

Yoon noted that although the bill has some legal problems, Roh has decided to convene the cabinet meeting as soon as possible so as not to delay the will of the lawmakers, who voted for the bill Thursday.

Roh said he would accept the independent inquiry bill if the National Assembly passed it by a two-thirds majority in a revote.

The president’s veto prompted the majority opposition Grand National Party (GNP) to boycott parliamentary sessions and GNP chairman Choe Byung-yul to go on hunger strike.


jayshim@koreatimes.co.kr