President Roh Moo Hyun had asked Justice Minister Chung Soung Jin on Sunday to consider reopening the case against conservative candidate Lee Myung Bak to 'relieve the public suspicion and regain the prosecution's trust'.

Yonhap new agency reported on Monday, however, that the ministry had ruled out reopening the case as the National Assembly was set to vote later on Monday on a bill calling for an independent counsel probe on Mr Lee's allegations.

Earlier this month, prosecutors said Mr Lee had been cleared of wrongdoing in a stock price manipulation case surrounding a former business associate.

Justice Ministry spokesman Hong Man Pyo said on Monday that his ministry will 'humbly accept' the results of a parliamentary vote on the bill, as there are lingering suspicions on Mr Lee's case.

However, he stopped short of saying the ministry decided not to call for reopening of the probe.

Other Justice Ministry officials were not immediately available to comment on the report.

Mr Lee, a former Hyundai executive and Seoul mayor running as the Grand National Party's candidate, is heavily favoured to win Wednesday's election with more than double the support of his nearest rival in opinion polls.

Mr Lee's liberal rivals have alleged that money used for the stock manipulations came from an investment firm called BBK that Mr Lee apparently founded. -- AP