Seoul, South Korea ? Thousands of angry South Koreans had candlelight vigils across the country to protest the historic impeachment of their president Friday.

An interim head of state known as “Mr. Stability” took control, pledging to keep foreign and economic policies on an even keel.

The spontaneous evening protests were peaceful but underlined widespread dismay at a political crisis that has rattled a nation already juggling the North Korean nuclear standoff, a sluggish economy and a tumultuous run-up to hotly contested parliamentary elections next month.

The presidential impeachment was a first in South Korea, and the vote followed hours of televised shoving matches in which lawmakers battled for control of the assembly’s podium, throwing elbows and pulling hair. Security guards forcibly removed screaming supporters of President Roh Moo-hyun who tried to block the vote by commandeering the rostrum.

Prime Minister Goh Kun, who assumed executive powers from Roh, spoke of the need to “stabilize the people’s lives and ensure that the country’s international credibility will not be damaged.”

In a phone call to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon stressed the government’s commitment to continuity. He told Powell there would be no change in Seoul’s policy toward North Korea and that the government would “maintain its close alliance with the United States,” according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Goh will perform the executive duties until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to unseat Roh, a decision that could take six months. The opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday morning to impeach Roh on the grounds of illegal electioneering and incompetence.

South Korean National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong, center, is surrounded by National Assembly officials after announcing impeachment of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun at the National Assembly. Parliament approved the unprecedented impeachment of President Roh's illegal electioneering and incompetence charges Friday on a 193-2 vote.