BEHIND BARS: The former president’s office criticized the move, saying it once again highlighted the Ma Ying-jeou administration’s efforts to wage a political vendetta
BY RICH CHANG AND KO SHU-LING
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday criticized the Taipei District Court’s decision early yesterday to again detain former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) ahead of his trial on corruption charges, saying the government should make it clear whether politics were involved in the decision.

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By RICH CHANG AND FLORA WANG
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Diane Lee (李慶安), who has been at the center of a citizenship scandal, has quit the party. Lee issued a statement announcing her immediate resignation last night.

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Israel hit the Gaza Strip with more air strikes yesterday and warned its military action could last weeks, while its Islamist enemy Hamas vowed to keep up rocket attacks on Israeli cities.

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Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warned yesterday the country’s economy could slide into recession as he finally delivered a maiden policy speech delayed by protesters who blockaded parliament for two days.

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Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels killed more than 400 people in Christmas massacres in northern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), charity Caritas said yesterday.

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