(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-22 21:25

TAIPEI  -- Taiwan residents on Saturday vetoed two "referendums" on launching a bid to join the United Nations, according to an initial count of the votes on Saturday.

A vote on whether the island should seek UN membership under the name "Taiwan," as proposed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was held simultaneously with the leadership poll.

A second "referendum", held at the same time as Saturday's election and proposed by the Kuomintang (KMT), on whether the island should "return to the global body under any name", was also vetoed by voters.