SEOUL - South Korea's top prosecutor offered his resignation Wednesday as a political row grew over the suicide of former president Roh Moo-Hyun.

Roh, who held office from 2003 to 2008, leapt from a cliff near his retirement village on May 23 after being investigated in a corruption scandal. Tens of thousands attended his funeral amid a mass outpouring of grief.

Prosecutor-General Lim Chae-Jin said he was stepping down, holding himself responsible for the conduct of the inquiry involving Roh, his family and aides.

"Although I did my best, an unimaginable misfortune has brought sorrow to many people. As prosecutor-general who commanded the investigation, I sincerely apologise to the nation," Lim said in a statement.

He said he tendered his resignation to Justice Minister Kim Kyung-Han. It was not known whether it had been accepted.

The suicide of Roh, who had low popularity ratings when he ended his five-year term, sparked a wave of national mourning and millions visited altars devoted to him.

Critics said state prosecutors turned the Roh investigation into a nationalcircus by leaking details to the media about humiliating allegations before they had secured evidence.

Opposition parties want conservative President Lee Myung-Bak to apologise for Roh's death. They accuse him of ordering a politically motivated probe into the former liberal leader, even though the inquiry has also targeted a friend
of Lee's.

Roh, 62, was the country's third former president to be questioned on corruption charges after leaving office. He did not admit personal wrongdoing over payments worth six million dollars from a wealthy supporter to members of
his family. -AFP