A group of religious leaders met with the leaders of...

A group of religious leaders met with the leaders of political parties to seek their support for a campaign to abolish the death penalty.
The pan-religious delegation met separately with the ruling Millenium Democratic Party (MDP) chairman Kim Joong-kwon, opposition Grand National Party (GNP) leader Lee Hoi-chang and Kim Chong-hoh, acting president of the United Liberal Democrats, at the National Assembly.
"Abolition of the death penalty is necessary to protect human dignity and the sanctity of human life," the religious leaders said. "The right to live is a human being's most basic right."
The politicians said capital punishment must be abolished on the basis of a public consensus. They pledged to examine the matter seriously.
"About 60 percent of people favour maintaining the death penalty," said MDP Chairman Kim Joong-kwon. "We will discuss the matter more comprehensively," Kim said.
Lee of the GNP said his party would examine the matter carefully before deciding on the party stance.