TAIPEI, Nov 22: Thousands of Taiwanese on Saturday protested the arrest of former president Chen Shui-bian, an anti-China firebrand who says his detention as part of a graft probe was politically motivated.

About 6,000 people waved flags at an evening rally in a Taipei park in support of Chen, who has gone on a hunger strike for much of the time since his arrest on Nov 12. He was hospitalised for almost three days after refusing to eat for 108 hours, his lawyer said.

Chen’s fate is likely to affect public opinion of Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which backed Chen in office and faces tough local elections next year, experts say.—Reuters