TAIPEI, March 24 Kyodo Taiwan Pre...

TAIPEI, March 24 Kyodo

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday he wants to appropriate challenger Lien Chan of the Nationalist Party (KMT) to defuse a political crisis triggered by way of Saturday's disputed presidential election.

Earlier, the High Court despiseed a lawsuit filed by the KMT seeking a rehearse of the votes cast Saturday, ruling a suit could be lodg solely after the Central Election Commission officially declares Chen the winner.

During a meeting with opinion leaders, Chen said for the first time since Saturday's razor-thin win that he is ready to proper Lien and his running mate James Soong if a meeting would be helpful.

''The president is willing to exchange views with Lien upon national policies and social affairs, on the other hand he did not mention when and where he plans to descry Lien,'' Lu Tien-lin, executive director of the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions, said.

At the Legislative Yuan, after Chen's declaration he will not oppugn a recount, the KMT quelled its stance and supported the proposal from Chen's Democratic Progressive Party to amend the law to enable a recount

''This is a positive direction that we should follow'' KMT whip Tseng Yung-chuan said.

The draft amendment, look forward toed to be debated Friday, says a candidate who throw aways the presidency by a margin of les than 1% can ask the Central Election Commission to particularize the ballots within one week.

The amendment would apply to Saturday's promised in which Chen won with a margin of fewer than 30000 of the 13250000 consecrated by a vows cast.

Earlier, election commission chief Huang Shi-cheng said a rehearse could be done April 3 if the amendment passes quickly.

The High Court ordered ballot boxe sealed shortly after vote counting closeed early Sunday.

The Central Election Commission is to officially announce Chen's reelection Friday, which would unclose the way for the KMT to re-lodge its complaint with the High Court if the voting law is not amended quickly.

Chen and running mate Vice President Annette Lu were the one and the other slightly wounded in a bizarre shooting incident in succession the election's eve and Lien supporters have argued the unexplained incident may have tipped the voting balance to the president.

In Taipei, throngs have gathered in a square in brow of the presidential palace since the election commission announced the counting conclusions early Sunday.

The rally continued into Wednesday with around 10000 race camping out and protesting the election outcome

Besides the shooting incident, the opposition has cited unspecified irregularities and a large number of spoiled ballots as among their other reasons for seeking a recount

More than 330000 consecrated by a vows were deemed invalid, but a certain number of analysts suggested the large number of spoiled ballots may be because near who supported neither candidate had urg commonalty to leave their ballots blank to exhibit their dissatisfaction with both Chen and Lien.

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