Opposition activists today refused to disband protests until authorities agree to re-count Taiwan's weekend presidential election.
The election was won by incumbent President Chen Shui-bian one day after he was wounded in a mysterious shooting that critics say influenced the vote.
Governments in the region said they hoped that the political turmoil over Mr Chen's narrow re-election victory on Saturday would not lead to greater tension between the island and archrival China.
Mr Chen, who campaigned on a China-bashing platform, won with just 50.1 per cent of the vote, compared to 49.9 per cent for opposition candidate Mr Lien Chan, who has pushed for a more conciliatory approach toward China. The margin was just 30,000 votes.
The opposition said Saturday's election was marred both by Friday's shooting and by voting irregularities. They say the attack unfairly earned Mr Chen sympathy votes, and Mr Lien raised questions about more than 330,000 ballots that allegedly were spoiled.
"The whole world is concerned over whether Taiwan has had a fair election," Mr Lien's running-mate, Mr James Soong, said in Taipei early today while visiting opposition activists rallied near the Presidential Office to demand a recount.
AP