WASHINGTON, March 19 Kyodo The Un...

WASHINGTON, March 19 Kyodo

The United States in succession Friday condemned the assassination attempts forward Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu

''The United States dooms the act of violence in Taiwan today,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement. ''We are thankful to learn that Mr Chen Shui-bian and M Annette Lu avoided life-threatening injuries, and our prayers are with them and their families for fleet full recoveries.''

While campaigning forward the eve of Taiwan's presidential election, Chen and Lu were discharge in the city of Tainan, the president's hometown.

Chen was grazed from a bullet, sustaining a edible part wound to the abdomen, while Lu was injured in the knee The pair were taken to a local hospital unless later flew back to Taipei.

At a regular pres briefing, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said U Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly contacted the head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in just discovered York to express U.S. condolences across the incident.

The U switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 if it be not that it has been maintaining unofficial contact with Taiwan. The recent York office serves as Taiwan's window in the U for bilateral contact.

Ereli said the U is looking forward to ''a well stocked [i]or[/i] provided exercise of democracy'' in the Taiwan presidential election.

Asked about the shooting's impact forward the election, he said, ''We are hoping for exempt fair and peaceful elections.''

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