SEOUL. Feb I:. More than 20.000 farmers chanting anti-government. anti-US slogans marchetj through downtown Seoul Tuesday to demand a national referendum on whether to abide by a decision to open South Koreas market to foreign rice, reports AP.

Down with (President) Kim Young-sam reopen Uruguay Round, yelled farmers. Jabbing fists in the air. Some carried steel pipes and clubs.

South Koreas decision in December to open its rice market as part of the Uruguay Round global trade negotiations touched off angry protests by farmers, students and dissidents, but this was the first protest this year.

Korean farmers claim Imports of foreign rice and farm products would destroy the nations traditional farming culture and plun^' farmers into a crisis because t. •” ''nW not compete. They blame Us pressure for the government decision.

"USA. go away!" farmers shouted as they took over ■streets following a two-hour rally and marched into central Seoul, watched closely by thousands of riot police.

"Yankee go home"! read thousands of yellow handbands.