Taiwan President Shot

[hang a left]

Mar 19, 6:48 am ET

By Jane Macartney

http://news.excite.com/top/article/id/386648|top|03-19-2004::06:50|reuters.html

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian survived an assassination attempt Friday while campaigning on the eve of a presidential election, escaping with a bullet wound to the stomach.

Vice President Annette Lu was also wounded in the attack in the southern city of Tainan but was not badly hurt, officials said. The pair were rushed to hospital, but a hospital official said later that they had left to fly back to the capital.

Officials said Saturday's election would go ahead as planned.

Chen and Lu had been traveling in an open-top jeep through Tainan streets, waving to crowds, when unknown assailants shot at them at 1:45 p.m. (12:45 a.m. EST).

Police said they believed two standard handguns had been used and at least two shots fired. They had yet to make any arrests.

[Merlin]

1. They call Chen "The RFK of Taiwan". Wow! RFK in more ways than one.

Thank God he wasn't killed or grievously injured.

This may ironically have the opposite effect than the one clearly intended. It will almost certainly lead to a huge victory for Chen in tomorrow's election. It will seal the favorable vote in the referendum. And it may spark the beginning of the end of the KMT party, the GOP of Taiwan.

[gristy]

2. discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=431881&mesg_id=431881

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Good morning, liberalnproud!

There's an existing LBN thread on the assassination attempts in Taiwan. Please continue discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x431881

Thanks! :hi: