S-Korea's prez apologises over poor response to ferry disaster

Seoul, South Korea: South Korea's president has apologised to the public for the government's poor initial response to a ferry sinking that has left more than 300 people missing or dead.The apology came as divers Tuesday fought strong currents in their search for more than 100 missing passengers. The government has raised the death toll on what has become a point of national mourning and shame to 193. Most of the dead and missing are high school students.[caption id="attachment_1501213" align="alignleft" width="380"]

A relative of a passenger aboard the sunken Sewol ferry, mourns near the site. AP[/caption]President Park Geun-hye said at a cabinet meeting at the presidential Blue House that South Korea has "lost many precious lives because of the accident, and I am sorry to the public and am heavy-hearted." She says the government couldn't prevent the accident and "the initial response and remedy were insufficient."Associated Press