TAIPEI, Taiwan – President Chen Shui-bian survived an assassination attempt and reassured voters about his health and Taiwan's security Friday night, hours before polls opened for an election that focused on the military threat from the Chinese mainland.
Chen was grazed in the abdomen by a bullet and Vice President Annette Lu was shot in the right knee as they rode in an open-top red jeep down a packed street on the final day of campaigning in the president's southern hometown of Tainan. Neither wound was serious.
In his first comment on the shootings, a weary-looking Chen appeared in a videotaped message Friday night to say he was OK.
"There's no problem with A-bian," Chen said, referring to himself by his nickname. "There's no problem with Taiwan's safety. Please feel at ease."
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