Protesters gesture during a demonstration calling for the resignation of Taiwan's "President" Chen Shui-bian, outside Taipei train station in Taipei October 10, 2006. [Reuters] A month-long campaign to oust Taiwan's embattled "president" Chen Shui-bian reached a climax yesterday as more than 1.5 million people gathered in Taipei to demand Chen's resignation for alleged corruption. As Chen spoke at a "national day" celebration ceremony, about 50 "legislators" from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party who had been invited onto the stage shouted "Down with A-Bian," using his nickname, and made the thumbs-down gesture. Several blocks away, hundreds of thousands of people, most wearing red shirts and hats to symbolize their opposition to Chen, rallied to demand he step down over a string of corruption scandals. "A-Bian Out," they roared. The month-long anti-Chen campaign was launched by Shih Ming-teh, Chen's former ally and former DPP chairman. "Chen Shui-bian must respond to the demands of the people," Shih said. Barbed wire barricades erected by police prevented the protesters from approaching the "presidential" complex. KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said Chen should listen to the protesters. "Now that over 60 per cent of Taiwanese believe he's unfit to serve as 'president,' he must not continue to play dumb." Pressure has mounted on Chen to step down after he was questioned in August over alleged misuse of funds intended for "state" affairs. He has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to stay on until his second and final term ends in May 2008. (Agencies)

台湾长达一个月的"倒扁"运动于昨天掀起高潮，150多万民众聚集台北，要求四面楚歌的陈水扁下台。 10月10日当天，在陈水扁发表"国庆典礼"讲话的现场，约50名国民党"立委"上台高呼"阿扁下台"的口号，同时做出大拇指向下的手势。 几个街区之外，几十万"倒扁"民众身穿红衣、头戴红帽，在现场要求涉嫌一系列"贪污"丑闻的陈水扁下台。 民众们怒吼："阿扁下台！" 此次长达一个月的"倒扁"行动是由陈水扁前"战友"、原民进党主席施明德发起的。 施明德说："陈水扁必须回应人民的要求。" 台北警方架起带刺铁丝网，阻止抗议者们接近"总统"办公地。 国民党主席马英九说，陈水扁应该倾听民众的呼声。 "既然超过60％的台湾民众都认为他不再适合做'总统'，他就不应该继续'保持沉默'。" 今年8月，陈水扁因涉嫌滥用公务机要费用受到检查机关的调查。之后，要求他下台的呼声越来越高。而陈水扁对此却矢口否认，并宣称将坚持到2008年5月自己的第二届（最后一届）任期结束。 (英语点津姗姗编辑)