TALKING THE TALK: The president-elect said he would restore the role of the Straits Exchange Foundation as a negotiator with Beijing, but would not visit China himself
By Mo Yan-chih
President-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) pledged yesterday to seek closer economic ties with China and resuscitate the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) as a communication channel on cross-strait issues.

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PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY: Ma Ying-jeou could face fresh corruption charges before May 20, but legal proceedings would be suspended on that date
By Rich Chang
A prosecutor said yesterday that president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) could still face further corruption charges, but any investigations, indictments or criminal trials would be suspended when Ma takes office on May 20 because of presidential immunity.

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PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE?: Most Chinese newspapers carried a lengthy opinion piece that repeated Beijing's assertion that the Dalai Lama was behind the unrest in Tibet
China yesterday again accused the Dalai Lama of trying to take the Olympic Games "hostage" over Tibet, as a new official toll of those injured in the unrest in and near the Himalayan region topped 700.

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US Vice President Dick Cheney began Easter Sunday with a prayer and the singing of Amazing Grace at a chapel in Jerusalem, then launched into a day of talks about conflict: the Middle East peace process and the rising influence of Iran in the region.

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Embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf hailed the start of a "new era of real democracy" in Pakistan and vowed yesterday to support an incoming government led by foes bent on diminishing his powers.

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