A motorcade sponsored by the headquarters of the campaign to force Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to step down left Taipei on Friday afternoon at the start of an "anti-corruption" tour around the island.

The tour, which aims to create greater awareness of the campaign, is scheduled to last till October 10, according to Taiwan-based media.

On September 9, a mass sit-in was launched by the campaign headquarters headed by Shih Ming-teh, the former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in a protest against Chen and his family members who are accused of taking bribes.