TAIPEI - FORMER Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui has broken ranks with former ally and successor Chen Shui-bian, saying he was wrong to back him in 2004 and urged countrymen to oust his party from office.

Mr Lee, who threw his weight behind Mr Chen's bid for a second term four years ago, told youths in Taipei on Saturday that 'we had chosen the wrong person, and we had been punished,' the United Daily News reported, ahead of new polls.

The former president urged the nation against voting for Mr Chen's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the 2008 presidential race, citing the high-profile corruption cases that have happened under their rule since 2000.

'I have never seen any other country like Taiwan where more than 10 ministers have been arrested on charges of graft in less than eight years,' he told the newspaper.

Last month prosecutors sought a 20-year jail term against Vice Economic Minister Hou Ho-hsiung on charges of accepting bribes and peddling influence in several flood control construction projects, according to an indictment.

Mr Lee also targeted Mr Chen's wife Wu Shu-chen.

'She should keep in mind that as a First Lady, she may be seduced by money,' Mr Lee said.

Mdm Wu, the first president's wife ever prosecuted in Taiwan's history, stands accused of illegally claiming 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (S$656,500) in personal expenses from state funds.

That included around 1.5 million dollars worth of diamond rings and other luxury items, according to prosecutors.

Mr Chen, who will retire in May, was also named a suspect but escaped immediate prosecution because of presidential immunity.

Mr Frank Hsieh, a former premier, is running for the DPP in the next presidential race, taking on former Taipei city mayor Ma Ying-jeou of the leading opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party. -- AFP

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