Dozens of people including two politicians were injured and 13 others arrested as protesters tried to storm Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's office in one of the worst clashes since his re-election on Saturday evening. Several protesters were rushed to the National Taiwan University Hospital from the nearby square of the presidential office after the violence erupted late on Saturday. Among those slightly injured as police tried to drive back the crowds using water cannons were female parliamentarians Shen Chih-hui and Chin Hui-chu from the opposition People First Party (PFP). Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou said that as the head of the capital city, he had to order riot police to disperse the crowds to maintain order. "We found that among the 13 people arrested, six have criminal records," Ma said. Around 1,000 police equipped with shields and wooden clubs were called in to tackle protestors calling for a referendum on an independent probe into Chen's election-eve shooting, which they say swung him votes. Protesters chanting "Chen Shui-bian step down" pelted police with bottled water and stormed barbed wire barricades set up by police as they tried to force their way to the presidential office. |