New bid to unseat Taiwan leader

One of Taiwan's opposition parties has submitted a new parliamentary motion to try to force the island's president, Chen Shui-bian, to step down.

The opposition People's First Party called on him to resign over a series of corruption allegations surrounding his family and aides.

The move comes after more than two weeks of mass street protests against the president.

The latest motion argues that President Chen lacks the ability to govern.

But its chances of being passed remain slim.

The opposition parties hold a small parliamentary majority, but a recall motion needs approval from two-thirds of all legislators before it can be put to a national referendum.

And a previous attempt to recall the president, in June, failed.

But earlier this week, the chairman of the largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, urged lawmakers to support the recall motion.

Ma Ying-jeou said it could help to end the political stalemate and street protests by giving the people of Taiwan the chance to have their voices heard through the ballot box.

The governing Democratic Progressive Party has said it will oppose the recall move.

Despite mounting pressure on him, President Chen has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he will stay in office until his term ends in 2008.

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