Yesterday was the third day of a peaceful protest against President Chen Shui-bian with some 30,000 people in the streets. Mediation between the president and his opponents has failed so far.

Taipei (AsiaNews/SCMP) – Protests against Chen Shui-bian continued for a third day in Taipei yesterday. Some 30,000 people were in the streets accusing Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian of using his position to favour his family's economic interests.

Demonstrators, wearing a red to indicate their anger, continued their sit-in in front of the Presidential Office, whilst organisers announced plans to "besiege the city" to force the president to resign.

"In the second stage of our protests, we plan to kick off with a march to besiege the city beginning at midnight on September 15," said Jerry Fan Ke-hsin, a spokesman for the campaign to oust Mr Chen.

Protesters would be asked to hold a lit candle, divide into two groups, and encircle the Presidential Office and the nearby Presidential Residence before converging on the Taipei Railway Station.

Mr Fan said protesters would then rally at the station until September 21, before returning to the boulevard in front of the Presidential Office where they would start the third stage of the protest. Police has already approved the protest routes.

Mr Chen is under attack for allegedly embezzling NT$ 36 million (US$ 1.1 million) in state funds, whilst his wife is being examined for alleged influence peddling, and their son-in-law, in prison since May, is on trial on insider trading charges.

The protest movement began last week-end drawing more than 100,000 in a march to the Presidential Office.

In response to his critics, Mr Chen has always insisted that he would remain in office till the regular end of his mandate in May 2008. He has tried, unsuccessfully though, to harness support in the governing and opposition parties. (PB)

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