Leader of China's Taiwan Province Chen Shui-bian Tuesday resigned as chairman of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the wake of its defeat in legislative elections.

Chen's resignation was accepted at the party's Central Standing Committee meeting, which named DPP legislative whip Ker Chien-mingacting chairman until a new chairman is elected later.

Before the meeting, Chen said he would "take full responsibility" for losing the elections, in which the opposition parties won a majority of Taiwan's new legislature in Saturday's vote.

He said DPP had been "too overconfident and hasty" in the elections, but said he would persist in efforts to "make Taiwan a normal country."

The incumbent Taiwan leader and his "pan-green" alliance are advocates of Taiwan's independence from China, a position the Chinese government strongly opposes.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2004)