President Chen

Chiu Yi (邱毅), a Soong spokesman, appeared at their campaign headquarters to concede the loss.

"We respect the choice of the people, and give our blessing to Chen Shui-bian," Chiu said.

Lien also conceded defeat, apologizing to his supporters for the KMT's poor performance.

"I will be doing some soul-searching and review this failure," Lien said.

The party's secretary-general, Huang Kun-hui (黃昆輝), handed in his resignation shortly afterward, to take responsibility for the loss.

"We accept defeat. We respect the people's decision and the results of the election," Huang told reporters at KMT headquarters.

China, meanwhile, has not made any direct comment on the vote, saying only that the election in "Taiwan province" had finished.

Top military officials in Taiwan announced they would respect the new leadership regardless of who won.

"On behalf of the armed forces, I hereby pledge to the soon-to be commander-in-chief that the armed forces will be loyal, make sacrifices and contributions, and defend the national security of the Republic of China," Chief of Staff Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) said in a statement after voting ended.

In another development late last night, angry supporters of Soong gathered in front of KMT headquarters in Taipei, protesting against what they called the "betrayal" of the KMT.

"Lee Teng-hui is a traitor!" they shouted.

The crowd, estimated to be as many as a thousand strong, then moved on to protest noisily in front of Lee's Taipei residence near the Presidential office,