The motion to oust Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian launched by the opposition parties of the Kuomingtang (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) failed on Tuesday in Taipei.

Because of Chen's "management incompetence" and a series of corruption scandals, involving his son-in-law, his wife and some of his top aides, the KMT and PFP called for Chen to step down at the beginning of this month.

On Tuesday's referendum to oust Chen, all "lawmakers" from Chen's Democratic People's Party boycotted the vote, leaving only 133 to cast their votes. According to Taiwan regulations, only when two-thirds, or 148 votes, of the "legislature" approve the motion, could Chen be ousted. Of the 133 votes cast, 119 casts approved the motion, no one opposed it and 14 were invalid.

Upon hearing the news, the KMT and PFP all expressed their regret, saying that they would go on calling for Chen to step down.

So far, the rally launched by the KMT demanding Chen's resignation has exceeded 1.67 million people.

Editor: Yan