Taiwanese opposition signals possible presidential impeachment

The three main opposition parties in Taiwan have filed a proposal to parliament for the impeachment of President Chen Shui-bian.

The impeachment motion was supported by MPs from the Kuomintang, the New Party, and the People First Party. One-hundred-and-forty-seven of the two-hundred-and-nineteen MPs are reported to have supported the motion.

A senior member of the People First Party, Li Chin-an, said the motion was filed as an official document but it wouldn't be put to a vote in the short term.

Leaders of the three opposition parties met last month to formulate the impeachment proposal following a decision by President Chen and his Democratic Progressive party not to complete work on the country's fourth nuclear power station. Correspondents say the proposal also marks opposition dissatisfaction with President Chen's handling of the economy and relations with mainland China.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service