Taiwan's high court sealed election ballot boxes on Sunday as protesters massed to contest President Chen Shui - bian's victory after a mysterious assassination attempt and the discovery of many spoiled ballots.

Defeated Nationalist Party contender Lien Chan called for a recount and a special inquiry into the shooting of incumbent Chen on the eve of Saturday's poll that swung the vote in the island's closest-ever presidential election.

Chen and the vice-president both broadcast messages of reassurance hours after they both escaped an alleged attempted assassination.

Reports are that the president had been shot while campaigning in his Southern hometown of Tainan. This prompted a tearful outpouring of shock both there and in the capital, Taipei, followed by jubilation when it became clear Chen was not badly hurt. The bullet is said to have grazed Chen's stomach while vice-president Annette Lu was reportedly hit in the knee.

The opposition party is saying that a full investigation is required to look into these reports of attempted assassination which they say seem suspicious fishy coming a day before the closest-ever elections in Taiwan. Opposition leader Lien Chan seems convinced that the incident was contrived to bolster the flagging popularity of the president.

The truth is not yet known, but is appears that people the world over will do almost anything to maintain power.

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS

Pepper Pot