Taiwanese keep up Chen pressure

Rain fell throughout the day, dashing protesters' hopes that thousands would turn up again - 90,000 took to the city streets on Saturday.

"Ah-Bian, step down!", they shouted making the thumbs-down sign and wearing their red outfits signifying anger.

Mr Chen's popularity has plummeted amid scandals involving relatives and aides.

In one case, his son-in-law is facing charges - which he denies - of insider trading on the stock market.

Refusing to quit

Abound 3,000 demonstrators braved the cold and rain overnight in Taipei to keep up the sit-in protest.

On Saturday, protest leader Shih Ming-teh, a former Chen ally, hailed event as an historic moment and vowed that there would be no let up in the pressure on the president:

Chen protests gain ground

In pictures: Taiwan protests

"What the country really needs is a leader who can do something good for the people rather than one who hides in the presidential office despite so many corruption cases," Mr Shih said.

"The people of Taiwan have the power to ask Chen to step down. We will not stop this protest until he does," he added.

Mr Chen was elected as Taiwan's first non-Kuomintang president in 2000 and was re-elected in the disputed election of 2004.

Mr Chen, whose term of office is due to run until 2008, is refusing to resign, saying that the rallies are simply part of opposition attempts to bring him down.

Last month he survived an unprecedented parliamentary attempt by the opposition Kuomintang to oust him.

The crisis began in May, when Mr Chen's son-in-law, Chao Chien-min, was detained on suspicion of insider trading.

Mr Chen's wife was also accused of questionable dealings.

The president has apologised for the actions of his son-in-law.

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