By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter

Major opposition parties on Thursday urged the Constitutional Court to endorse their impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun.

The majority opposition Grand National Party said it expected the court, which held a meeting to discuss the impeachment on Thursday, would find the grounds for the impeachment justified.

``We hope the Constitutional Court will conduct a strict and serious trial in the way of recovering law and principle,’’ party vice spokesman Eun Jin-soo said.

He said Roh deserved to be dismissed due to bribery cases involving his associates, improper economic policies and violation of elections laws.

The minor opposition Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) also said the impeachment motion was warranted, while calling on the public to refrain from engaging in activities that will affect the court’s decision, mindful of the anti-impeachment street rallies.

MDP chairman Chough Soon-hyung called on the court to take its time coming up with a final determination given the seriousness of the case.

The pro-government Uri Party, however, urged the court to quickly make the decision to prevent possible political crisis due to the impeachment.

``We hope the court will swiftly proceed in accordance with law and right consciousness, as world as well as the Korean public are closely watching the court’s proceedings,’’ party chairman Chung Dong-young said.

Chong Wa Dae said it has referred the matter to Roh’s defense counsel.

jayshim@koreatimes.co.kr