Thousands march in new anti-government rally in S Korea

Seoul: Thousands of demonstrators have begun marching in Seoul against conservative President Park Geun-hye, who compared them to "terrorists" after clashes with police broke out at a rally in November.

Police say today about 13,000 people have turned up at the rally.

The protesters, many wearing masks, carrying flowers and brandishing banners, are rallying against what they say are setbacks in labor conditions and personal and political freedoms under Park's government.

The government tried to ban the march, but the move was thwarted by a Seoul court on Thursday.

Dozens were injured in November after police clashed with protesters. Park has compared masked militant protesters to terrorists from the Islamic State group, and called for laws banning masks at rallies.