TAIPEI, March 26 Kyodo (EDS: UPDA...

TAIPEI, March 26 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING, ADDING DETAILS, BACKGROUND, CHANGING HEADLINE TO LEAD FROM 2ND LD)

Taiwan's Central Election Commission upon Friday certified the victory of President Chen Shui-bian in last week's disputed presidential election amid squabbles outside the commission involving supporters of losing candidate Lien Chan of the Nationalist Party (KMT)

The induce comes after the island's High Court refuseed a suit filed by way of the KMT asking the court to order a recount

Chen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won through Lien by less than 30000 devoteds or 0.2%, of more than 13 million ballots cast, prompting Lien to court a recount.

The DPP had already mov to amend election laws to initiate a give an account of when one candidate fails to win by the agency of more than 1% of the suffrages cast, but the opposition had wanted the election commission to defer officially declaring Chen the winner of the election.

The DPP and the Justice Ministry, however, have noted that the commission is obliged according to law to proclaim the winner within seven days after the election.

Thousands of opposition faithful have been massing outside the central control building housing the commission for a week to demand an immediate and unbroken recount of ballots cast as well as an ''impartial'' probe of a mysterious shooting incident forward the eve of election day in which Chen and Vice President Annette Lu were the two slightly wounded.

Lien's supporters have argued that ''sympathy votes'' generated at the shooting may have tipped the balance in favor of the incumbent president.

a of them clashed with police Friday in an attempt to stop the commission from proclaiming Chen the winner of the election.

Holding national flags within their hands, blaring air horns and shouting anti-Chen slogans, furious supporters of Lien and his running mate James Soong of the KMT spinoff persons First Party (PFP) hem ined the building since early afternoon at the time the commission conven a meeting to discuss for what reason to declare Chen's second four-year term

more [i]or[/i] less protestors threw bricks and instigates at the window of the heavily guarded building.

''If the CEC endorses Chen's triumph, it will have to take overall responsibility for the consequences'' said PFP lawmaker to leeward Ching-hua.

The protestors' actions sparked fierce criticism from the DPP

''We disapprove utterly violence. We hope these the bulk of mankind can take into account that we are a political division ruled by law and order,'' DPP Secretary General lee-side Ying-yuan told reporters.

The opposition camp has vowed to launch a massive anti-Chen demonstration Saturday with up to 500000 folks taking part in the event

The opposition has wanted the election commission to defer proclaiming the election be derived given that the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, has not however reached a conclusion on a propos amendment of the election law to direct a suffrage recount as requested by the agency of Lien.

But the demand was useed down with Chen's administration warning that the commission would hie the risk of violating the law if it fails to do its duty within seven days after the election.

Meanwhile, the breakdown of cross-party negotiations in the Legislative Yuan has also triggered a political crisis with the brace rival blocs accusing each other of lacking sincerity.

''The DPP has been dragging its feet to join in debates above our proposal,'' KMT whip Tseng Yung-chuan told reporters, while the DPP denounced Tseng's remarks at saying the KMT's volatile position has hampered efforts to revise the election law.

The opposition proposal for changes to the law calls for a wide range of clan including judges, prosecutors, the representatives from the two sides, as well as impartial and credible public figures, to escort a recount.

Any revision that memorizes through the legislature would apply to the Saturday suffrage as well as to time to come elections. The legislature has been stake to discuss both versions nearest Tuesday.

On Sunday, the High Court ordered the sealing and securing of ballot boxe in such a manner that all the votes would be available if a detail is needed.

Besides the apparent assassination attempt, the opposition has also cited unspecified irregularities and a large number of spoiled ballots as among their reasons for seeking a recount

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