Taiwan premier Hsieh resigns

He resigned "to take responsibility for the ruling party's landslide defeat in December's local elections".

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Taiwan Premier Frank Hsieh on Tuesday resigned "to take responsibility" for the ruling party's landslide defeat in December's local elections.

"I had offered twice to step down immediately after the polls but agreed to stay after President Chen Shui-bian asked me to for political stability," Mr Hsieh told a press conference.

But he said Mr Chen had accepted his resignation after he again offered it late on Monday.

"I thank the president for approving my resignation," he said.

Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, secured a landslide victory in the December 3 poll, with the chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party at the time describing the result as "a severe setback for the DPP."

Parliament's decision to extensively slash the national budget Hsieh's government had proposed also prompted his decision to resign, he added.

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