Taiwan president agrees to meet trade pact protesters

TAIPEI, Mar 25 (AFP):  Taiwan's president on Tuesday offered to talk with protest leaders in a concession to student demonstrators who have occupied parliament for the past week to stop the government from ratifying a contentious trade agreement with China.

The invite was apparently aimed at preventing any further escalation after more than 100 people were injured Monday when police used water cannon to disperse hundreds of protesters who had also stormed the nearby government headquarters.