About 30 college professors and democracy activists placed themselves outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei and chanted slogans such as "Reject the special military budget."

They want the government to postpone screening of the budget until after November 2 presidential elections in the United States and Taiwan's December parliamentary polls.

But the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) may ask parliament's defense committee to place the issue on its discussion agenda this week or even push for a vote for a second reading, protestors said.

"DPP legislators have been asked to prepare for a vote," protest spokesman Kuo Chung-i told AFP.

"The DPP government felt it must be in a hurry as it has felt the pressure from the US government and arms suppliers," he added.

The party, which does not have majority in the parliament, declined to comment on the remarks.

In June cabinet approved a special budget of 610.8 billion Taiwan dollars (18.2 billion US) to purchase weaponry from Washington over a 15-year period starting in 2005.

The arms package, pending final approval in parliament, includes eight diesel-powered submarines, a modified version of the Patriot anti-missile system and a fleet of anti-submarine aircraft.

It has stirred heated debate on the island with critics saying the spending would further provoke rival China and heighten cross-strait tensions.

The government says the arms deal is aimed at strengthening the island's defences against growing military threats from Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taipei.

China has repeatedly vowed to wage war against Taiwan should it seek formal independence.

In another protest Sunday, a group of candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections clashed with police after demanding the removal of politicians they regard as close to the late Chiang Kai-shek whose party ruled Taiwan until 2000.

Candidates of the Taiwan Solidarity Union held a rally in southern Kaohsiung city where they also demanded that the name of the island be altered to "Taiwan" rather than the present "Republic of China".

No one was injured in the clash.

Chiang and his army fled to the island in 1949 after being defeated by communist forces in China. He died in 1975 but the Kuomintang group he led continued to rule the island until 2000 when the pro-independence Democratic Progressive PartyTaiwan's won election.

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