South Korean prosecutors investigating a massive corruption scandal engulfing impeached President Park Geun-Hye attempted to raid the presidential Blue House on Friday, sparking a stand-off with security guards.&nbsp;

It was the first time investigators had sought to search the top security complex for evidence since Park was impeached by parliament in December over the influence-peddling and power abuse scandal.&nbsp;

A platoon of prosecutors wielding a court search warrant and their assistants were immediately stopped by security guards as they tried to enter the premises.

They have no legal means to enforce the search at the Blue House unless allowed in by the president, as the complex is considered a top military security zone, South Korea&#39;s Yonhap news agency said.

A presidential spokesman said the Blue House was profoundly opposed to the search but was willing to present documents and other materials prosecutors wanted to look over.

Negotiations were continuing hours after the prosecution team arrived.

Park is accused of colluding with a longtime friend, Choi Soon-Sil, to strong-arm donations worth tens of millions of dollars from top firms to dubious foundations controlled by Choi.

The president is also accused of using her influence to ensure the merger of two Samsung units in 2015 to help facilitate a father-to-son power succession of Samsung`s founding family, allegedly in return for bribes given to Choi.

The prosecutors&#39;&nbsp;action comes as prosecutors plan to interrogate Park face-to-face next week.

The Constitutional Court has until June to decide whether to approve the impeachment, in which case new elections must be held within 60 days, or reinstate her.

(AFP)

Not even a court order permitted the raid. The president, who is under investigation, needs to give permission because it's a military zone

South Korean prosecutors investigating a massive corruption scandal engulfing impeached President Park Geun-Hye attempted to raid the presidential Blue House on Friday, sparking a stand-off with security guards. It was the first time investigators had sought to search the top security complex for evidence since Park was impeached by parliament in December over the influence-peddling and power abuse scandal. A platoon of prosecutors wielding a court search warrant and their assistants were immediately stopped by security guards as they tried to enter the premises. They have no legal means to enforce the search at the Blue House unless allowed in by the president, as the complex is considered a top military security zone, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said. A presidential spokesman said the Blue House was profoundly opposed to the search but was willing to present documents and other materials prosecutors wanted to look over. Negotiations were continuing hours after the prosecution team arrived. Park is accused of colluding with a longtime friend, Choi Soon-Sil, to strong-arm donations worth tens of millions of dollars from top firms to dubious foundations controlled by Choi. The president is also accused of using her influence to ensure the merger of two Samsung units in 2015 to help facilitate a father-to-son power succession of Samsung`s founding family, allegedly in return for bribes given to Choi. The prosecutors' action comes as prosecutors plan to interrogate Park face-to-face next week. The Constitutional Court has until June to decide whether to approve the impeachment, in which case new elections must be held within 60 days, or reinstate her. (AFP)

Prosecutors stopped from raiding South Korea's presidential house

A Seoul court on Thursday rejected an arrest warrant sought for Samsung heir Lee Jae-Yong, it said, part of a widening probe into a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-Hye.

The Seoul Central District Court turned down a request sought by prosecutors on Monday for the warrant to arrest Lee on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury.

Investigators said Lee gave or promised some 43 billion won ($36.3 million) worth of bribes to Park&#39;s jailed confidante Choi Soon-Sil.

The payment was allegedly in return for the state pension fund&#39;s backing of a merger of two Samsung affiliates -- deemed crucial for Lee&#39;s hereditary succession of power at Samsung, the world&#39;s largest smartphone manufacturer and a key part of the South Korean economy.&nbsp;

But the prosecutors have so far failed to come up with solid evidence, the court said.

&quot;It is difficult to accept the reasons, need and justification&quot; to issue the warrant, it said in a statement released by the prosecutors, citing the lack of clear-cut evidence.

(AFP)

Investigators said Lee gave or promised some $36.3 million worth of bribes to President Park's jailed confidante Choi Soon-Sil

A Seoul court on Thursday rejected an arrest warrant sought for Samsung heir Lee Jae-Yong, it said, part of a widening probe into a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-Hye. The Seoul Central District Court turned down a request sought by prosecutors on Monday for the warrant to arrest Lee on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury. Investigators said Lee gave or promised some 43 billion won ($36.3 million) worth of bribes to Park's jailed confidante Choi Soon-Sil. The payment was allegedly in return for the state pension fund's backing of a merger of two Samsung affiliates -- deemed crucial for Lee's hereditary succession of power at Samsung, the world's largest smartphone manufacturer and a key part of the South Korean economy. But the prosecutors have so far failed to come up with solid evidence, the court said. "It is difficult to accept the reasons, need and justification" to issue the warrant, it said in a statement released by the prosecutors, citing the lack of clear-cut evidence. (AFP)

S Korea: Court rejects arrest warrant for Samsung heir

South Korean lawmakers on Friday voted to impeach President Park Geun-Hye, stripping away her sweeping executive powers over a corruption scandal and opening a new period of national uncertainty.

The National Assembly ballot immediately transferred Park&#39;s authority to the prime minister, pending a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether to ratify the decision and permanently remove the president from office.

A ruling could take up to six months, during which time Park will remain in the presidential Blue House -- a leader in name only. The situation leaves South Korea facing an extended stretch of political anxiety and policy paralysis at a time of slowing economic growth, rising unemployment and elevated military tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.

Park apologises after impeachment

&quot;I am so sorry for all South Koreans that I created this national chaos with my carelessness,&quot; Park said in a televised statement after the vote.

&quot;But we should not let our guard down for a single minute, given the grave situation we face at home and abroad from our economy to the national defence.

In this time of uncertainty, the lives of our people should never be disregarded,&quot; she said calling on the government to unite and minimise any fallout from the resulting power vacuum. 
&nbsp;

Celebrations&nbsp;

The motion to impeach was adopted by 234 votes to 56, easily securing the required two-thirds majority in the 300-seat chamber and triggering wild celebrations among hundreds of anti-Park activists gathered outside the National Assembly.

It was a startling fall from grace for a politician who had run for the Blue House as an incorruptible candidate, declaring herself beholden to nobody and &quot;married to the nation&quot;. After just under four years in power, she now faces the prospect of going down in history as the first democratically-elected South Korean president to be kicked out of office.

The impeachment motion had accused Park of constitutional and criminal violations ranging from a failure to protect people&#39;s lives to bribery and abuse of power. Supported by all 171 opposition and independent lawmakers, its adoption was made possible by an anti-Park faction within the president&#39;s Saenuri party.

The result means Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn, a former prosecutor who has never held elected office, suddenly finds himself in charge of Asia&#39;s fourth largest economy and supreme commander of its armed forces.

Warning on North Korea&nbsp; 
 
Just minutes after the vote, Hwang urged the defence minister to tighten the national security posture. &quot;North Korea is likely to stage some provocations to stir chaos in the South at such a grave time,&quot; Hwang was quoted as saying by a ministry spokesman.

The push for impeachment was driven by massive protests that have seen millions take to the streets of Seoul and other cities in recent weeks, demanding Park&#39;s ouster.

&quot;This has been an honourable civil revolution in which our people defeated an incompetent leader,&quot; the president of the main opposition Democratic Party said after the vote.

The scandal that felled Park focused on her friendship with long-time confidante Choi Soon-Sil.

Choi is awaiting trial on charges of meddling in state affairs and using her Blue House connections to force dozens of conglomerates to donate around $70 million to two foundations she controlled.

In a first for a sitting South Korean president, Park has been named a &quot;suspect&quot; by prosecutors investigating the case. The power vacuum left by Park&#39;s ouster could be a lengthy one.

The Constitutional Court is expected to validate the impeachment, starting the clock running on a 60-day window for holding fresh presidential elections -- an event neither the ruling or opposition parties are particularly prepared for.

&quot;This is the first step towards putting the country back on a normal track but there is a long road ahead,&quot; said Park Kie-Duck, a political science researcher at the Sejong Institute think-tank in Seoul.

High-level corruption has long been a stain on South Korea&#39;s democratic credentials and the presidential Blue House is no stranger to allegations of cronyism. Since South Korea&#39;s first free and fair election in 1987, every president has faced graft investigations after leaving office and one -- Roh Moo-Hyun -- committed suicide as a corruption probe closed in on his family.

(AFP)

Her authority now transfers to the prime minister, pending a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether to ratify the decision

South Korean lawmakers on Friday voted to impeach President Park Geun-Hye, stripping away her sweeping executive powers over a corruption scandal and opening a new period of national uncertainty. The National Assembly ballot immediately transferred Park's authority to the prime minister, pending a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether to ratify the decision and permanently remove the president from office. A ruling could take up to six months, during which time Park will remain in the presidential Blue House -- a leader in name only. The situation leaves South Korea facing an extended stretch of political anxiety and policy paralysis at a time of slowing economic growth, rising unemployment and elevated military tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea. Park apologises after impeachment "I am so sorry for all South Koreans that I created this national chaos with my carelessness," Park said in a televised statement after the vote. "But we should not let our guard down for a single minute, given the grave situation we face at home and abroad from our economy to the national defence. In this time of uncertainty, the lives of our people should never be disregarded," she said calling on the government to unite and minimise any fallout from the resulting power vacuum. Celebrations The motion to impeach was adopted by 234 votes to 56, easily securing the required two-thirds majority in the 300-seat chamber and triggering wild celebrations among hundreds of anti-Park activists gathered outside the National Assembly. It was a startling fall from grace for a politician who had run for the Blue House as an incorruptible candidate, declaring herself beholden to nobody and "married to the nation". After just under four years in power, she now faces the prospect of going down in history as the first democratically-elected South Korean president to be kicked out of office. The impeachment motion had accused Park of constitutional and criminal violations ranging from a failure to protect people's lives to bribery and abuse of power. Supported by all 171 opposition and independent lawmakers, its adoption was made possible by an anti-Park faction within the president's Saenuri party. The result means Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn, a former prosecutor who has never held elected office, suddenly finds himself in charge of Asia's fourth largest economy and supreme commander of its armed forces. Warning on North Korea Just minutes after the vote, Hwang urged the defence minister to tighten the national security posture. "North Korea is likely to stage some provocations to stir chaos in the South at such a grave time," Hwang was quoted as saying by a ministry spokesman. The push for impeachment was driven by massive protests that have seen millions take to the streets of Seoul and other cities in recent weeks, demanding Park's ouster. "This has been an honourable civil revolution in which our people defeated an incompetent leader," the president of the main opposition Democratic Party said after the vote. The scandal that felled Park focused on her friendship with long-time confidante Choi Soon-Sil. Choi is awaiting trial on charges of meddling in state affairs and using her Blue House connections to force dozens of conglomerates to donate around $70 million to two foundations she controlled. In a first for a sitting South Korean president, Park has been named a "suspect" by prosecutors investigating the case. The power vacuum left by Park's ouster could be a lengthy one. The Constitutional Court is expected to validate the impeachment, starting the clock running on a 60-day window for holding fresh presidential elections -- an event neither the ruling or opposition parties are particularly prepared for. "This is the first step towards putting the country back on a normal track but there is a long road ahead," said Park Kie-Duck, a political science researcher at the Sejong Institute think-tank in Seoul. High-level corruption has long been a stain on South Korea's democratic credentials and the presidential Blue House is no stranger to allegations of cronyism. Since South Korea's first free and fair election in 1987, every president has faced graft investigations after leaving office and one -- Roh Moo-Hyun -- committed suicide as a corruption probe closed in on his family. (AFP)

S Korea Parliament impeaches President Park Geun-Hye

Brad Pitt has been cleared after a probe into allegations he mistreated one of his children in a mid-air altercation, the FBI said on Tuesday.

The claims centered on an alleged incident with his 15-year-old son Maddox in September on a flight from France to Los Angeles. Pitt&#39;s wife Angelina Jolie claimed he had struck the boy.

&quot;In response to allegations made following a flight... carrying Mr&nbsp;Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI has conducted a review of the circumstances and will not pursue further investigation,&quot; the agency said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;No charges have been filed in this matter.&quot;

The announcement marks Pitt&#39;s second vindication over the incident, two weeks after Los Angeles social workers cleared the 52-year-old of wrongdoing following interviews with the couple, their children and witnesses.

Jolie, 41, filed for divorce in September, citing irreconcilable differences. She is seeking sole custody of their six children.

Pitt, who won a best film Oscar for producing &quot;12 Years a Slave&quot; (2013), has been in contact with all six of the couple&#39;s children and is seeking joint legal and physical custody.

The reunions were supervised by a therapist as part of the couple`s temporary custody agreement -- mediated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services -- which was recently extended.

Under the agreement Jolie had physical custody of the children -- three of whom, including Maddox, are adopted -- at a rented LA house.

The A-listers -- given the celebrity moniker &quot;Brangelina&quot; -- wed in France in August two years ago, but had been a couple since 2004.

Pitt&#39;s representative, however, declined to comment.

(AFP)

Park is under enormous pressure to step down over a corruption scandal, with regular rallies demanding she be impeached

Brad Pitt has been cleared after a probe into allegations he mistreated one of his children in a mid-air altercation, the FBI said on Tuesday. The claims centered on an alleged incident with his 15-year-old son Maddox in September on a flight from France to Los Angeles. Pitt's wife Angelina Jolie claimed he had struck the boy. "In response to allegations made following a flight... carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI has conducted a review of the circumstances and will not pursue further investigation," the agency said in a statement. "No charges have been filed in this matter." The announcement marks Pitt's second vindication over the incident, two weeks after Los Angeles social workers cleared the 52-year-old of wrongdoing following interviews with the couple, their children and witnesses. Jolie, 41, filed for divorce in September, citing irreconcilable differences. She is seeking sole custody of their six children. Pitt, who won a best film Oscar for producing "12 Years a Slave" (2013), has been in contact with all six of the couple's children and is seeking joint legal and physical custody. The reunions were supervised by a therapist as part of the couple`s temporary custody agreement -- mediated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services -- which was recently extended. Under the agreement Jolie had physical custody of the children -- three of whom, including Maddox, are adopted -- at a rented LA house. The A-listers -- given the celebrity moniker "Brangelina" -- wed in France in August two years ago, but had been a couple since 2004. Pitt's representative, however, declined to comment. (AFP)

South Korea President's approval rating at record low 4%