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Taiwan leader supporters to rally Thousands rally for Taiwan leader
(about 16 hours later)
Tens of thousands of Taiwanese are expected to rally in Taipei on Saturday in support of their embattled President, Chen Shui-bian. Tens of thousands of Taiwanese have taken to the streets of the capital, Taipei, in support of their embattled President, Chen Shui-bian.
Organisers hope to counter a protest in the Taiwanese capital on Friday demanding Mr Chen's resignation, which attracted at least 320,000 people. The protest was organised to counter a demonstration on Friday demanding Mr Chen's resignation.
That rally came at the end of a week of demonstrations by Mr Chen's opponents.
The president is under pressure to quit over a string of corruption scandals surrounding his family and aides.The president is under pressure to quit over a string of corruption scandals surrounding his family and aides.
But organisers of Saturday's march did not defend the president directly, saying only that the opposition campaign was endangering Taiwan's democracy. Organisers of Saturday's march said the opposition campaign was endangering Taiwan's democracy.
Emergency orderEmergency order
The rally in support of Mr Chen is expected to begin at 1500 local time (0700 GMT). Many protestors waved green flags with the Chinese characters for "Taiwan", a symbol of support for independence, a cause linked to Mr Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
It is being organised by the pro-government Taiwan Group, but reports say Mr Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has issued an emergency order to mobilise party members nationwide. "If there is no concrete evidence, you can't make such claims against him," a protester who gave her name as Ms Tsang told the Associated Press new agency. "If we are pursuing democracy, everything has got to be clarified."
[These protests] have hurt Taiwan's democracy President Chen's Democratic Progressive Party Estimates of the number of people present varied widely with organisers claiming that 200,000 turned up but police putting the figure closer to 60,000.
The party is laying on buses to bring supporters to the capital, a measure which it is thought could boost turnout to as many as 100,000. The rally was organised by the pro-government Taiwan Group, but reports say Mr Chen's DPP issued an emergency order to mobilise party members nationwide.
While police said 320,000 red-clad demonstrators marched on Friday, organisers put the figure at three quarters of a million. The party organised buses to bring supporters to the capital.
"The political gesture, colour, symbols, after being exaggerated by the media, has caused massive fears among the people," the DPP was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. On Friday, a much larger march took place in the capital with organisers claiming as many as three quarters of a million took part.
"This has hurt Taiwan's democracy." Police said the number of red-clad protestors was around 320,000.
Saturday's demonstrators will gather outside the presidential office - a space vacated by opponents of the president, who have been holding a round-the-clock vigil there.
Chen protests gain ground In pictures: Friday's protests
The opposition to Mr Chen is led by Mr Chen's one-time ally, former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh.
He rejected the DPP's criticisms, reportedly saying: "Taiwan's democracy is by no means represented by Chen Shui-bian."
Some of Mr Chen's opponents have regrouped outside the capital's main train station, where they say they are drawing up plans for further action, including a possible strike and blockade of Taiwan's main airport.
ScandalsScandals
The president's popularity has plummeted amid scandals involving relatives and aides.The president's popularity has plummeted amid scandals involving relatives and aides.
His son-in-law is facing charges - which he denies - of insider trading on the stock market, while his wife has also been accused of accepting department store vouchers.His son-in-law is facing charges - which he denies - of insider trading on the stock market, while his wife has also been accused of accepting department store vouchers.
Prosecutors have also questioned Mr Chen over allegations of misuse of public funds.Prosecutors have also questioned Mr Chen over allegations of misuse of public funds.
His term of office is due to run until 2008 and though he has apologised for the scandals, he is refusing to resign, saying that the rallies are simply part of opposition attempts to bring him down. His term of office is due to run until 2008 and, though he has apologised for the scandals, he is refusing to resign, saying that the rallies are simply part of opposition attempts to bring him down.
In June Mr Chen survived an unprecedented parliamentary attempt by the opposition Kuomintang to remove him from office.In June Mr Chen survived an unprecedented parliamentary attempt by the opposition Kuomintang to remove him from office.