Taiwan elects first native PM

TAIPEI (Reuter) - Taiwan's provincial governor Lien Chan was chosen as the island's first native Taiwanese prime minister yesterday, marking a shift of power in the wake of democratic reforms.

The parliament voted by 109 to 33 to confirm Mr Lien's nomination. Mr Lien, 56, a US-educated scholar and liberal politician, was expected to name a new cabinet at a meeting of the ruling Nationalist Party's Central Standing Committee on Friday.

Hau Pei-tsun, 73, a conservative Nationalist leader accused by the opposition of blocking democratic reform, was forced to resign as prime minister this month in a battle between liberal and conservative factions of the ruling party.