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TAIPEI: Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou vowed on Saturday to push ahead with reconstruction after the devastation caused by Typhoon Morakot two weeks ago plunged his government into a political storm.
"I assure you I will complete the reconstruction and resettlement during my term and I will punish negligent officials," Ma said at a service at Hsiaolin village in Taiwan's south, where more than 400 people were feared dead.
Ma attended two services with premier Liu Chao-shiuan, parliamentary speaker Wang Jin-pyng and other cabinet ministers, who bowed low before mourners in an apology for their government's handling of the disaster and its aftermath.
Ma also said that he would set up a memorial park and monuments so that the souls of those killed by Typhoon Morakot can rest in peace.
Outside one shrine, television footage showed scores of angry villagers surrounding Ma's entourage and demanding his government to take responsibility for its response to the typhoon.
"Premier Liu you must step down," shouted a man in footage aired by TVBS cable news channel. "We lost 500 or 600 people and you don't need to be responsible for that?"
Across Taiwan, government buildings flew flags at half mast to mark three days of mourning from Saturday, with Morakot's toll expected to rise to 650. So far, 160 people have been confirmed dead and 490 missing, authorities say.
Ma's approval rating has sunk to 16 per cent – the lowest since he took office in May last year for a four-year term – and three senior cabinet officials have offered to step down.
All three remain in their jobs, but premier Liu has suggested a cabinet reshuffle next month was inevitable and that even his own place in the government would be reviewed.
Taiwan's parliament, now in recess, is scheduled to hold an extra three-day session beginning Tuesday to review a special budget of 100 billion Taiwan dollars (3.12 billion US) for typhoon relief and reconstruction.
Morakot was the worst-ever typhoon to strike Taiwan, Ma has said, saying the scale of the damage was more severe than a 1959 typhoon that killed 667 people and left around 1,000 missing.
The deadliest natural disaster in the island's history was a 7.6-magnitude quake that claimed around 2,400 lives in September 1999.
- AFP/so
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