Shih denies giving go-ahead for strike

Chang Fu-chung (張富忠), another campaign spokesman, said the protesters would return to Ketagalan Boulevard on Sept. 21.

Ma said the police department would map out a plan to deal with the "siege," and would seek help from the National Police Agency if required.

Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方), who serves as the sit-in's deputy commander, said that military personnel in uniform were not welcome to participate in the anti-Chen campaign.

"Military personnel should remain neutral when it comes to politics. That's why we are against the idea of the government using the army to police the rally. By the same token, we don't approve of military personnel's participation in the anti-Chen campaign, even though it's their right to participate in a legal assembly when they are not on duty," Lin said.

Soldiers have not, in fact, been used to police the rally.

Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling and Shih Hsiu-chuan

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Authorities vow to step in if sit-in gets out of control