Protesters Try to Storm Taiwan President’s Office

Thousands of angry Taiwanese demonstrators protesting last month’s election results clashed with police while trying to storm barbed-wire barriers protecting President Chen Shui-bian’s office Saturday.

The violence erupted after more than 100,000 protesters marched in Taipei to demand an independent inquiry into an election-eve assassination attempt on Chen, which opposition supporters suspect was staged to win sympathy votes.

In the worst clash since the election, some 2,000 protesters used a large scaffold as a battering ram and tried to charge through the iron barriers and barbed wire protecting the president’s office.

They threw at least one gasoline bomb, tables, chairs, placards and bottles before 8,000 helmeted police wielding wooden batons and shields and using water cannons forced them back. At least two protesters were hospitalized.

“Chen Shui-bian step down! We want the truth! Go democracy!” the mob shouted in the third large protest since Chen narrowly defeated Nationalist leader Lien Chan in the March 20 election.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou said 96 people were injured in the clash, including 55 policemen. Thirteen protesters were arrested, of whom six had criminal records, he said.

Responding to accusations that the police crackdown was overly harsh, Ma said it was unfortunate but unavoidable.

Earlier in the day, Lien led a peaceful rally demanding an independent inquiry into the shooting in which Chen was lightly wounded. The president has rejected demands for an inquiry, so Nationalists are calling for a referendum on the issue.