Taiwan MPs brawl in parliament

A brawl has broken out in the Taiwanese parliament as a heated debate about election-related issues descended into disarray.

The 14-hour discussion took place on the last day of a conference held in parliament to discuss whether a referendum should be combined with next year's election and if the legislative and presidential elections should be held at the same time.

Despite the two major parties agreeing on some points, a dispute broke out with microphones being broken and members being pushed and shoved.

The session was eventually dismissed, with some blaming legislative speaker, Wang Jin-pyng for his inability to maintain order in parliament, but the Nationalist presidential candidate, Ma Yin-jeou, gave him his support.

"Speaker Wang has little choice, whenever in a situation like this, all the possibility to continue proceeding are hindered. A ruling party who boycotts a bill by boycotting a parliamentary session is unacceptable," said Ma.

Wang expressed his frustration with the situation: "We are never afraid to battle for a bill, but when we proceed to vote, they pull out microphones."

Mayhem in Taiwan's parliament is not unusual. In previous sessions, legislators have thrown books, shoes and lunch boxes at each other.

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