Taiwan votes after Chen shooting
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 Taiwan's president shot at rally
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TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Taiwan's voters are casting their ballots in what is expected to be a close presidential election the day after a failed assassination attempt on their leader and his running mate.
President Chen Shui-bian was hit in the stomach while campaigning in the southern city of Tainan and Vice-President Annette Lu was grazed in the leg.
Both were treated in hospital and released on Friday. No arrests were reported and it was not clear who fired on Chen and Lu.
Chen, of the Democratic Progressive Party, is battling for re-election against Lien Chan, chairman of the main opposition Nationalist Party, whom he defeated in 2000.
The Nationalist Party had ruled the island for five decades and opposes Taiwan independence.
Along with the presidential election, a controversial referendum that China considers a harbinger for a vote on the island's independence will be held on Saturday.
The referendum will ask voters to consider if China should reduce its military threat against the island. (Factsheet)
A heavy turnout is expected on Saturday. In the 2000 election 82 percent of those eligible cast their ballots.
Chen voted at midday, reassuring reporters he was well after Friday's shooting.
"When it happened, I first thought was a firecracker," Chen said after casting his ballot in Taipei.
"I asked my bodyguard to give me some first aid so I could continue the motorcade, then I found out that my clothes were heavily stained with blood.
"Then I saw the bullet hole in the windshield. Then I knew something was wrong."
Chen said national security was not in jeopardy and the attack would not undermine democracy.
Chen, who rejects the one China, two systems solution, has ignored warnings from Washington and Beijing not to take any steps that could fuel tensions.
Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Chen once called for a referendum on independence from China, and although he has since backed off from that, he is supporting the referendum on defense, which Beijing says is a precursor to breaking away.
Lien, one of Taiwan's richest men, favors what is widely regarded as a more concilatory approach to China. (Profiles: The candidates)
Meanwhile, Beijing has issued its first official comments on the attacks saying it had "taken notice of the shootings" and would "follow developments."
"I can be sure this incident is not linked to Communist China or political factors. We believe this is a social order incident," National Security Bureau chief Tsai Chao-ming told reporters.
The United States, the isolated island's main ally, condemned the attack and praised the island's commitment to pressing ahead with the election.
Call for calm
Chen and Lu called for calm after Friday's shooting.
"They did not suffer life-threatening injuries. They urge the public to cool down," Chiou I-jen, secretary-general in the Presidential Office, told a news conference.
Chen and Lu had been riding in the back of a convertible four-wheel drive vehicle in Tainan when an unknown attacker or attackers opened fire.
The crowd was cheering as Chen and Lu waved from the back of their vehicle, and fireworks were being set off along the route as the candidates passed.
Presidential spokesman James Huang told CNN nobody heard any gunshots or initially realized the leaders had been wounded because of the noise from the firecrackers.
Video from the parade showed a bullet hole in the windshield of the vehicle. Blood can be seen on the president's jacket as someone holds a cloth to the bullet wound on the right side of his waist.
Doctors at the Chi Mei hospital displayed a picture of a wound cutting across the front Chen's belly that was about four inches (11 cms) long and just under an inch (2 cms) deep and wide. Another picture showed a doctor holding the bullet slug in his palm.
"We were shocked and we didn't anticipate this type of event occurring only 24 hours before the election," Huang told CNN.
"I guess most people in Taiwan are shocked and they are very concerned about the security of their president and vice president."
Huang said Taiwan's armed forces had been placed on high alert and the National Security Council held an emergency meeting.
Lien condemned the shooting and extended his best wishes.
"We are all shocked by the incident ... We all condemn this act of violence. On the other hand, we wish them a quick recovery," he said.
Chen said God pulled him through the ordeal "because he knows that my biggest wish is to promote and push for the historic referendum of Taiwan.
"God knew that I could not die without first having voted in the referendum."
-- CNN Senior Asia Correspondent Mike Chinoy contributed to this report.
