By WILLIAM FOREMAN
Associated Press Writer
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Hundreds of protesters stormed the Central Election Commission headquarters Friday after it certified the results of Taiwan's disputed presidential election - violence that rival China hinted might provide a reason to take control of the island.
About 2,000 protesters scuffled with riot police guarding the building, broke windows, and tossed eggs after the commission officially proclaimed that President Chen Shui-bian won Saturday's election over opposition leader Lien Chan.
The demonstrators claim the vote was marred by irregularities and an unexplained election-eve shooting that wounded Chen.
Feuding political parties have made little progress deciding how to administer a quick recount of the controversial vote, and some opposition lawmakers were inciting unruly, violent mobs.
Although Friday's certification was just a formality and the vote can still be challenged, many protesters couldn't stand the thought of Chen's victory being formally certified.
They also worried the move would prompt major nations like the United States to congratulate Chen - praise that would undermine their claims that the world is on their side.
The White House applauded the ``successful conclusion'' of the election and urged Taiwanese to avoid violent protests but acknowledged that legal challenges to Chen's victory remain.
``We reject calls for violence, which threaten the very democratic principles to which we and the people of Taiwan are committed,'' White House press secretary Scott McClellan said in a statement.
``The maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the welfare of the people of Taiwan remain of profound importance to the United States,'' he said.
The instability prompted rival China to warn that it won't just watch if the crisis worsens.
China also expressed displeasure Saturday over Washington's message, saying it was ``incorrect act'' that undermined its commitment to Beijing's one-China policy.
More protesters converged on Taiwan's capital on Saturday for a massive rally that raised worries of new violence.
Organizers of Saturday's rally said that 500,000 demonstrators would gather in Taipei and call for a recount and an independent investigation into Chen's shooting.
Chartered buses from cities in southern Taiwan disgorged hordes of protesters dressed in yellow rain ponchos to protect against a cold drizzle in the capital.
Opposition supporters said Friday's violence wasn't scaring them away.
``That was a small minority of overexcited people, we still know our demands are reasonable, so we still have to persist and stay here,'' said Colin Wu, 38, an insurance salesman.
The brown-brick Presidential Office was ringed by police buses, while streets leading to key government buildings and to the ruling party headquarters were barricaded.
Beijing has long claimed that self-ruled Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. The communist giant's leaders have also said they would try to take over the island if foreign powers threaten Taiwan, if the island slips into chaos or if the Taiwanese reject eventual unification.
``The mainland side will not look on unconcerned should the post-election situation in Taiwan go out of control, leading to social turmoil, endangering lives and property of Taiwan compatriots and affecting stability across the Taiwan straits,'' China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement.
Taiwan snapped back that the protests involved only a small group of people and that the island's legal system would handle them.
``China's unreasonable criticism of our domestic affairs just amounts to rude meddling in our internal matters,'' said a statement from Taiwan's Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council, responsible for China policy.
In its statement, the White House said both Taiwan and China should use restraint.
``It falls to Taiwan and Beijing to build the essential foundations for peace and stability by pursuing dialogue through all available means and refraining from unilateral steps that would alter Taiwan's status,'' McClellan said.
Before the violence, opposition lawmakers pumped up the crowd with speeches about how they warned officials that certifying the election would trigger chaos.
``I warned them this could cause a volcano to erupt. It's like a match that could ignite the fuse to a powder keg,'' lawmaker Lee Ching-hua told the rowdy crowd, which minutes later charged into the building.
Lien, who lost last Saturday's vote, told another crowd Chen was to blame for Friday's turmoil. Without condemning the violence, Lien said he warned the president that certifying the vote would spark trouble.
``Mr. Chen Shui-bian, you are the nation's leader. You have to calmly think. There's no way we can continue this forever. You have to take the biggest responsibility,'' he said.
Lien also didn't urge the protesters to refrain from violence during the massive rally Saturday in Taipei. He said if the crowd loses control, it's Chen's fault.
Meanwhile, Premier Yu Shyi-kun, Taiwan's No. 3 ranking leader, urged Lien and his running mate James Soong to help the government maintain order.
``Don't let March 27 become the nightmare of Taiwan's democracy,'' Yu said.
