Protest turnout lower than expected

Many protesters were also seen covering their ears, with some even coming prepared with ear plugs.

"It has been noisy since 2pm today. How can patients rest with so much noise?" a family member of a patient was quoted as saying in a news clip broadcast by Formosa TV.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) also showed up briefly, saying he did so in his capacity as chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and expressing his support for the protest.

Ma arrived at 7:50pm and sat next to Shih before going onstage with Shih and others to chant "A-bian step down!"

People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and many other pan-blue-camp figures, including KMT Taipei mayoral candidate Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) and former KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文), turned up to show their support.

"I feel great. This is people power. A-bian should've stepped down. He should have a sense of shame," Cheng told the Taipei Times, adding that she would stay at the sit-in site "until A-bian steps down."

Also see story:
Ma calls on DPP to start own recall bid