Former Chairman of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party Shih Ming-teh began an island-wide protest tour Friday to pressure Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to resign after a string of corruption allegations.

Shih and 20 bus loads of supporters left the capital Taipei for Hsinchu City on Friday afternoon, the first leg of the planned trip to end on Oct. 10.

"We are writing a new history of democratic movement," Shih told the crowd prior to departure. "I hope the people in every part of Taiwan can take part in the making of this history."

Shih said the tour would be peaceful despite fears that clashes between protesters and Chen's supporters could erupt in the DPP's southern Taiwan stronghold.

He said he hoped the tour would be like the wind to fan "flaming fires" around the island against Chen.

Chen has been accused of misusing public funds, while his wife, Wu Shu-chen, has been questioned for allegedly receiving department store vouchers in exchange for lobbying favors and his son-in-law Chao Chien-ming was indicted on insider trading charges.

The "Legislative Yuan" of Taiwan on Friday agreed to consider a recall motion against Chen in October.

Source: Xinhua