Protesters gesture during a demonstration calling for the resignation of Taiwan's "President" Chen Shui-bian, outside Taipei train station in Taipei October 10, 2006. [Reuters] A month-long campaign to oust Taiwan's embattled "president" Chen Shui-bian reached a climax yesterday as more than 1.5 million people gathered in Taipei to demand Chen's resignation for alleged corruption. As Chen spoke at a "national day" celebration ceremony, about 50 "legislators" from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party who had been invited onto the stage shouted "Down with A-Bian," using his nickname, and made the thumbs-down gesture. Several blocks away, hundreds of thousands of people, most wearing red shirts and hats to symbolize their opposition to Chen, rallied to demand he step down over a string of corruption scandals. "A-Bian Out," they roared. The month-long anti-Chen campaign was launched by Shih Ming-teh, Chen's former ally and former DPP chairman. "Chen Shui-bian must respond to the demands of the people," Shih said. Barbed wire barricades erected by police prevented the protesters from approaching the "presidential" complex. KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said Chen should listen to the protesters. "Now that over 60 per cent of Taiwanese believe he's unfit to serve as 'president,' he must not continue to play dumb." Pressure has mounted on Chen to step down after he was questioned in August over alleged misuse of funds intended for "state" affairs. He has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to stay on until his second and final term ends in May 2008. (Agencies)

臺灣長達一個月的"倒扁"運動于昨天掀起高潮，150多萬民眾聚集臺北，要求四面楚歌的陳水扁下臺。 10月10日當天，在陳水扁發表"國慶典禮"講話的現場，約50名國民黨"立委"上臺高呼"阿扁下臺"的口號，同時做出大拇指向下的手勢。 幾個街區之外，幾十萬"倒扁"民眾身穿紅衣、頭戴紅帽，在現場要求涉嫌一系列"貪污"丑聞的陳水扁下臺。 民眾們怒吼："阿扁下臺！" 此次長達一個月的"倒扁"行動是由陳水扁前"戰友"、原民進黨主席施明德發起的。 施明德說："陳水扁必須回應人民的要求。" 臺北警方架起帶刺鐵絲網，阻止抗議者們接近"總統"辦公地。 國民黨主席馬英九說，陳水扁應該傾聽民眾的呼聲。 "既然超過60％的臺灣民眾都認為他不再適合做'總統'，他就不應該繼續'保持沉默'。" 今年8月，陳水扁因涉嫌濫用公務機要費用受到檢查機關的調查。之后，要求他下臺的呼聲越來越高。而陳水扁對此卻矢口否認，并宣稱將堅持到2008年5月自己的第二屆（最后一屆）任期結束。 (英語點津姍姍編輯)