Hundreds of South Korean protesters clashed today in front of the ousted president’s official residence in Seoulwith some demanding his immediate detention and others asking for his protection in the face of the risk of arrest.

Faced with an arrest warrant against him, Mr Yoon Suk Yeolaged 64, remains locked in his home, promising to “fight to the end” against the authorities, who want to question him about his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Since the December 3 coup, Yun has shown no remorse and his systematic refusal to submit to questions from investigators has raised fears that an attempt to arrest him will provoke violent episodes, further exacerbating the deep crisis which Asia’s fourth largest economy is undergoing.

Hundreds of Yun’s loyal supporters, including far-right YouTube stars and evangelical leaders, gathered outside his home in Seoul, facing anti-Yun protesters and police riot squads.

A woman fell in front of a police bus, her arms outstretched on the windshield. Other supporters of the ousted Yun lay in the street, eyes closed and arms folded, as police tried to remove them.

THE Sea Dog Parka 74-year-old protester, told AFP he went there to “fighting to the death to save liberal democracy”arguing that Yun’s imposition of martial law was justified and he should not be impeached.

“Void removal!” chanted the protesters, who were holding South Korean flags.

“Yoon Suk Yeol, we protect you! We protect you!”were also among the slogans heard.

Dozens of people streamed the protests online on YouTube, AFP reporters observed.

Yesterday, Yun sent a message to his most extreme supporters in front of his residence, telling them that he was watching them on YouTube and he urges them to help him to “defend democracy” and yes “fight to the end”.

The opposition and experts criticized this action, which they saw as an attempt to mobilize the most extreme protesters, who could cause incidents.

But supporters of Yun, such as 63-year-old Kim Sang-bae, said they would not leave the area as they are determined to “stop the injustice”representing the arrest of a sitting president, something unprecedented in South Korean history.

A pro-Yun protester was arrested for obstructing police, South Korean media reported. The arrest warrant was illegal, Yun’s lawyers argued, and his security team refused to comply with newly issued search warrants.

The president himself three times he ignored subpoenas from the Bureau of Corruption Investigationsleading investigators to issue an arrest warrant.

Nearby, hundreds of anti-Yun protesters staged a counter demonstration, singing the national anthem, while dozens of riot police officers struggled to keep the two opposing camps at bay.

Yun’s critics “they were hit on the head and repeatedly assaulted” from the opposing camp as they tried to hold a press conference, according to one of them, 46-year-old Bae Hoon. “I had a feeling that if we stayed five minutes longer, a serious incident would happen”he added, clarifying that the police tried to intervene, but were numerically inferior. “The pro-Yun crowd was suffocating, with about 500 to 600 people surrounding us … until the first insults and attacks”Bae described.