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The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a militant umbrella labor group, staged demonstrations in major cities around the country yesterday as part of its ongoing protest against the government's handling of recent labor strikes.

Some 20,000 unionists participated in rallies held in 10 cities, including Seoul, Ulsan, Changwon, Kwangju and Taejon.

About 5,000 workers showed up for the rally held at Seoul's Chongmyo Park. Their post-rally protest march to Myongdong Cathedral caused severe traffic congestion in the downtown Seoul area.

The umbrella group is insisting that the government was unfair in deciding to mobilize riot police to break up recent strikes at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul and the National Health Insurance Corp. building in Mapo-gu. Clashes between the police and striking workers resulted in injuries in both cases.

The KCTU has also alleged that the police used violence on pregnant women during the crackdown at Lotte Hotel.

The umbrella group, which both the hotel and the insurance corporation are members of, has vowed to stage protests until the government atones for the wrong it has done by making an official apology and forcing the related authorities to resign.

The KCTU is currently leading a boycott against Lotte products and holding photo exhibitions of the June 29 raid on the Lotte Hotel at train stations, universities and other public places.

A KCTU official warned that the protests would continue until labor disputes at these companies are resolved.

International labor groups are also lending their voices to the KCTU cause. At the request of the umbrella group, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has sent a letter of protest to the Korean government.