Taiwan prosecutors have interviewed Kuomintang chairman and Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou twice in the past ten days in relation to a government funds embezzlement scandal.

Ma confirmed to local media that he was questioned a second time but did not reveal details of his talks with prosecutors. He said it was good to have an opportunity to explain the truth clearly. 

He's been facing pressure since lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party earlier this month accused him of misusing 340,000 New Taiwan dollars (US$10,300) from a special monthly fund.

Ma was questioned on November 14 by local prosecutors and later said he had helped "explain things and help clarify the matter".

The opposition's likely candidate for Taiwan's 2008 election Ma has pledged that he'd resign if prosecutors brought charges against him. Prosecutors said Ma hasn't been treated as a suspect or defendant so far.

The Ma probe came just days after Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's wife and his aids were indicted for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million New Taiwan dollars (US$448,500) from a secret office fund.

An opposition-led recall motion to oust Chen has gone into a second day of debate in the local legislature. Lawmakers of the "Legislative Yuan" will vote on the motion Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2006)