Taiwanese investigators announced on August 17 they have ended a probe into last year's election-eve shooting with the conclusion that the shooting was not directed and staged by the campaigners, incumbent leaders Chen Shui-bian and Lu Hsiu-lien, themselves.

The announcement noted that as suspect Chen Yi-hsiung had been dead, he would not be prosecuted, according to sources in Taiwan.

Two major political parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP), nevertheless, described the conclusion as "very absurd and hasty" and vowed to keep working to unearth the truth.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan said the "March 19 shooting incident" was very absurd. In whatever circumstances, efforts must continue to uncover the truth for the sake of the people and history.

An assistant to PFP Chairman James Soong quoted Soong as saying that he personally "cannot accept" such "hasty conclusion" of the case.

Parliament members of the KMT and PFP also said they cannot accept the probe's hasty conclusion and would instead continue to push for the formation of the second special investigation committee to probe the truth of the incident.

Chen and Lu of the Democratic Progressive Party were riding in an open Jeep when they were shot while campaigning in the southern city of Tainan, which resulted in bizarre slight injuries to Chen and his running mate Lu.

The next day, Chen and Lu defeated their opponents, KMT Chairman Lien Chan and PFP Chairman James Soong, by a razor-thin margin.

The opposition protested against the election results, claiming the shooting was a conspiracy to gain sympathy votes and boost Chen's re-election chances.

Son of Chen Yi-hsiung said in his judgment, his father absolutely has nothing to do with the case.

"Although my father has been named as the sole suspect, there are no direct evidence to prove he did it," he said.

The suspect was found drowned near Tainan on March 29 and his body was cremated a day later, with the cause of death listed as accidental drowning.

However, media reports have queried the official version of events and raised doubtful, including why Chen's body was found wrapped in a fishing net and why the gun used in the shooting had not been found.

Source: Xinhua