In Taipei on Sunday over 20,000 people took to the streets shouting slogans and waving banners demanding Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian quit. Chen has been accused of involvement in corruption.

The demonstration started at 14:00 and at about 16:00 the demonstrators gathered in front of Chen's office.

Chen should step down immediately as he had lost the trust of the people of the island province for alleged corruption, said Ma Ying-jeou, chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), who led the demonstration and spoke at the gathering.

Ma urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to recognize the situation and support the dismissal of Chen. "It's impossible for Chen to stay on in the position if DPP voices (its support)."

In a related development a DPP "legislator" also called on Chen to consider the public demands before "the situation forces him to step down."

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2006)