Taiwan marred by fraud allegations

Taiwan marred by fraud allegations

TAIPEI (AP): President Chen Shui-bian's party held a primary
on Sunday to select candidates for year-end national and local
elections, the first since it became the ruling party last year.

About 60 percent of the Democratic Progressive Party's nearly
200,000 members cast votes at polling stations throughout the
island.

Out of the 145 candidates, the party will select up to 80
members to run for the 225-seat Legislature. Twenty-three others
will be selected to run for mayoral and county executive seats.

The new government counted on the elections to reserve its
predicament. Although Chen was elected president, the
government's bills are often blocked in the opposition-controlled
legislature.