U.S. NEGOTIATORS ARRIVED SUNDAY FOR A WEEK OF TALKS AIMED AT MAKING PROGRESS ON A FREE-TRADE AGREEMENT WITH SOUTH KOREA AMID HEAVY SECURITY AND DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE PROPOSAL. ASSISTANT U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE WENDY CUTLER, THE CHIEF U.S. NEGOTIATOR, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HER TEAM ARRIVED AT INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LATE IN THE AFTERNOON FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS AS ABOUT TWO DOZEN PROTESTERS, BLOCKED BY POLICE, CHANTED SLOGANS AGAINST THE ACCORD. ABOUT 700 POLICE, SOME WIELDING RIOT GEAR AND SHIELDS, WERE ON GUARD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ARRIVAL HALL AT INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. CUTLER, WHO REFUSED TO MAKE A STATEMENT OR ANSWER REPORTERS' QUESTIONS IN THE HALL, WAS ESCORTED BY SECURITY PERSONNEL AND U.S. EMBASSY EMPLOYEES TO A WAITING VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR SCUFFLES BETWEEN THE SECURITY PERSONNEL AND JOURNALISTS PURSUING CUTLER FOR COMMENT. AMID THE JOSTLING, CUTLER FELL JUST BEFORE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. HE APPEARED UNHURT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. 09/07/2006 12:58 ت م
