STEPPING BACK: The president raised eyebrows on Sunday night when he said he was seriously considering implementing martial law because of the election furor
By Ko Shu-ling and Flora Wang
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday pledged that he would not declare martial law during his term, urging all election officials to follow the Central Election Commission's (CEC) decision to distribute election and referendum ballots simultaneously during January's legislative elections.

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STORM WARNING: The Central Weather Bureau issued torrential rain alerts for residents of Keelung, Taipei and Taoyuan and those living from Ilan County to the Hengchun Peninsula
By Shelley Shan
Heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Mitag (米塔) caused minor damage to the nation yesterday.

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Typhoon Mitag slammed into the northeastern Philippines after killing at least 10 people elsewhere in the country, while another deadly storm that had blown away toward Vietnam days earlier headed back yesterday, complicating emergency preparations.

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ANNAPOLIS ASSEMBLY: Iranian criticism of a Saudi presence at the conference and a refusal by Hamas to recognize any decisions have clouded preparations
US President George W. Bush yesterday launched the biggest Middle East peace initiative of his two terms in office ahead of a conference that has raised hopes and recriminations in the Arab world.

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A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumbawa island yesterday, killing three, injuring 55 and damaging hundreds of homes as repeated aftershocks rattled nerves, officials said.

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