Thursday, November 13, 2008

Ex-Taiwan president on hunger strike


TAIPEI (AFP) — Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian has not eaten since being detained over a corruption probe in protest at what he insists is a politically-motivated investigation, his lawyer said Thursday.

Chen, whose pro-independence stance in office set him against Beijing, has repeatedly accused the island's China-friendly government of being behind allegations of embezzlement, money laundering, taking bribes and forgery.

Chen has only drunk water since entering a detention centre early Wednesday and has not eaten a proper meal since late Tuesday, lawyer Cheng Wen-long said.

"He intends to stop eating in protest," Cheng told reporters after visiting the former leader, who he said was "in an okay condition now."

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