S. Korea President Back In Charge

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun regained power Friday in a historic court ruling that overturned an opposition-led impeachment bid, energizing his mandate to demand a more equal alliance with Washington amid nuclear tensions with the communist North.

The nine-judge Constitutional Court panel ruled that Roh had violated an election law but that the infraction was not serious enough to justify ousting him after one year in office.

The legislature's March 12 impeachment vote suspended Roh's executive powers, forcing him to sit idle in his official residence. The verdict released him from that political limbo.

The ruling, watched by millions over seven national television stations, vindicated the outrage of South Korean voters who punished the opposition at April parliamentary elections over what they felt were flimsy charges against Roh.

The court's ruling bolsters Roh's push for reconciliation with the North and his call for more balanced relations with traditional ally the United States — policies backed by a new-look liberal parliament dominated by Roh supporters. It is the first time in 16 years that a president has a friendly legislature.

"We have him back!" dozens of tearful wellwishers chanted outside the white granite courthouse. Downtown Seoul was festooned with ribbons and balloons while villagers in the president's hometown danced for joy.

The main opposition Grand National Party, whose numbers in the National Assembly were decimated in the April election, offered its "deepest apologies" for the impeachment and promised to end divisive political bickering.

Roh was upbeat.

"Let's make policies that win support from the people," Roh said during a private luncheon for his presidential staff after the verdict, according to his spokesman Yoon Tae-young.

Roh and the country's first liberal Assembly in four decades want to lessen South Korea's dependence on the United States, even though the alliance is seen as crucial in efforts to defuse the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Roh's more immediate challenge is how to reverse public opposition against his decision to send 3,600 troops to Iraq.

Presidential spokesman Yoon pledged the government will fulfill its promises with "new resolve."

Chung Dong-young, who heads the pro-Roh Uri Party hailed the verdict as "a great victory for the people who wanted to defend democracy."

Friday's ruling, read by Constitutional Court President Yun Young-chul, covered three main charges against Roh — illegal campaigning, corruption scandals involving his aides, and economic mismanagement.

It cleared Roh of the charge of economic mismanagement and the allegation he was incompetent for failing to control corruption among several former aides. But it agreed with the charge that Roh violated election rules when he spoke in favor of the Uri party at a news conference.