From BBC News, there was an assassination attempt on Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu just hours before the country's elections were set to begin. President Chen was hit in the stomach and the Vice-President in the knee. Both have been treated and released from the hospital. "It is not known who carried out the attack, or what the possible motive might be, but the island has raised its national security alert after the attack on the head of state. Security around the opposition candidate Lien Chan has also been tightened." "Correspondents say it is the first attack on a president in Taiwan and the incident has caused widespread shock and grief. " The elections are going ahead as planned.

It's interesting, first the bombing in Spain right before their election, now an assassination attempt hours before Taiwan's election. I'm not saying they're directly related, especially since in Spain's case it resulted in the government getting thrown out, while in Taiwan's case it *could* lead to the President getting re-elected due to sympathy (according to the article it was already going to be a close election). However, it does make me wonder if someone saw what happened in Spain, and subsequently decided to try to influence their own election through an act of violence.