Ferry disaster: more bodies found

A South Korean coastguard ship carries to shore more bodies from the capsized ferry - and the end of hope for waiting relatives.

By Sunday the number of confirmed dead had risen to at least 49.

What's been referred to as a rescue operation now appears a grim search for more than 200 mostly school students still unaccounted for after Wednesday's ferry capsize.

Distraught relatives struggled with police as they tried to reach the presidential Blue House in Seoul to complain about the speed of the recovery operation.

(SOUNDBITE)(Korean) BAE SUN-OK, MOTHER OF MISSING STUDENT, SAYING:

"Take out my child, take out my child, please. I've heard they're all dead. Bring me the body so that I can see the face and hug my child. What am I going to do? They're probably dead already."

The ferry capsized with 476 passengers and crew on board.

Most were pupils or teachers from one single high school.

The captain and two crew members have been arrested