Taiwan legislature erupts in violence over ‘secret expenses’ bill

KMT lawmakers try to block bill they say could be used to overturn ex-President Chen Shui-bian’s corruption conviction.

Taipei, Taiwan – Taiwan’s parliament erupted in violence on Monday as lawmakers clashed over a bill that critics say could be used to overturn former President Chen Shui-bian’s conviction on corruption charges.

The ruckus occurred after dozens of legislators from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), armed with signs and loudspeakers, took to the podium of the legislative chamber in the early morning to prevent a third reading of the bill.

Lawmakers pushed and shoved each other and threw water and paper as tensions over the bill boiled over....