Mass rallies have been taking place in Taipei in the run up to parliamentary and mayoral elections, scheduled to take place in Taiwan on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of supporters of the governing Nationalist Party marched through the capital on Sunday to back their candidate , Ma Ying-jeou, who is challenging the current mayor of Taipei.

Similar numbers from the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, who support the incumbent, , Chen Shui-bian, held a rally on Saturday.

The Democratic Progressive Party and a rival splinter group ,the Taiwan Independence Party, have both condemned violent scuffles between their supporters, in which seventeen people were injured.

Correspondents say that these elections will indicate the chances for the two main parties in presidential elections to be held in the year 2000.