Attempt to arrest S Korea president suspended after dramatic standoff

After a dramatic six-hour long standoff with security, South Korea police have called off an attempt to arrest suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol, reports BBC.

The military and Yoon's security service officers formed a human wall and used vehicles to block the arrest team's path, local news outlet Yonhap reported.

Yoon is under investigation for abusing his power and inciting an insurrection when he tried to impose martial law in early December.

The move, although short-lived, led to a political crisis as Yoon was impeached by an opposition-led parliament and suspended from office.

A Seoul court issued a warrant for his arrest early this week after he ignored three summonses for him to appear for questioning.

If they had been successful, Yoon would have become the first sitting president to be arrested in South Korea's history.

Since early morning on Friday, dozens of police vans lined the street outside Yoon's residence in central Seoul.

At about 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT), an arrest team made up of police officers and CIO members marched towards the compound._Agencies.