South Korean cabinet offers to resign

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) - Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and the entire South Korean cabinet offered to resign Tuesday amid an uproar over an unpopular deal to resume importing U.S. beef, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The move follows a similar resignation offer last week by top aides of President Lee Myung-bak. The offers are attempts to diffuse a volatile situation that has brought tens of thousands of protesters into the streets of the South Korean capital, Seoul.

The eight staffers said they hold themselves responsible in the collective resignation offer, which was delivered to Lee by his chief of staff, according to Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for the president's office.

It was unclear whether Lee would accept the offers.