Replacements brought in for posts vacated after riot

"Such an arrangement is quite impossible," she said.

"I am always ready for all kinds of challenges. Right now, I just want to begin my work as soon as possible and re-invigorate the Kaohsiung City Government," she said.

"I have not thought about anything other than this at this time," she said.

In reaction to the news that Yeh had been appointed Kaohsiung's acting mayor, and the rumors that it was because she might become Hsieh's partner in a presidential race, DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said yesterday that speculation was needless, since rumors change every day and people do not pay attention to them.

"The most important thing right now is to do things for people with down-to-earth attitudes, and the press should not create the impression that the ruling party only cares about the 2008 election," Su said.

Additional reporting by Jewel Huang