Thousands gather for last weekend of campaigning

Tens of thousands gathered in Taiwan Saturday as rival presidential candidates took to the streets for "super weekend" rallies. It is the last weekend of campaigning before the vote for president next Saturday, when the embattled ruling Kuomintang (KMT) is expected to be defeated. Tsai Ing-wen of the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is forecast to take the leadership due to scepticism over its China-friendly policies and anger at the island's stagnating economy. Addressing crowds gathered for her rally in the city of Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, the DPP's heartland, Tsai said change was the only way forward. Taiwan is self-ruling after it split from China in 1949 following a civil war on the mainland, but Beijing still considers it part of its territory, awaiting reunification.