TAIPEI, Taiwan —  Taiwan's Legislature on Friday voted to approve debating the recall of embattled President Chen Shui-bian on Nov. 24, though the issue is given little chance of passing.

Chen's ruling Democratic Progressive Party did not participate in the vote.

The recall motion needs a two-thirds majority of Taiwan's 220-member Legislature before it can be referred to Taiwanese voters for final approval.

On Wednesday however, Chen's party offered him its support, following a speech in which he refuted prosecutors allegations that he, wife Wu Shu-chen, and three senior aides had embezzled $450,000 from a special fund used to promote Taiwanese diplomacy abroad.

Wu and the three aides were indicted in the case and prosecutors said Chen would likely be charged with embezzlement as well when his immunity from prosecution lapses after he leaves office.

His second and final term ends in May 2008.

Earlier on Friday, major Taiwanese newspapers published an open letter from a former Chen adviser calling on the president to resign over the corruption allegations.

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In the letter Nobel laureate Lee Yuan-tseh urged Chen to"concede mistakes"and choose the"correct option"in dealing with the charges against him.

"At this juncture, I sincerely suggest: It is necessary for President Chen to seriously consider the issue of his continued leadership,"Lee wrote.

Also urging Chen to resign was Kao Chih-ming, publisher of the English language Taiwan News, who wrote in the newspaper earlier this week that the president should step down"even before a court could prove his innocence."

Kao and his paper have long been strong supporters of Chen and his ruling DPP.

Chen has said that he and his wife are innocent of embezzling money from the diplomatic fund. He maintains that any irregularities in its bookkeeping are due to confusing and often conflicting regulations regarding the fund's management.

The opposition mounted recall votes against Chen in June and October in connection with other corruption scandals but neither secured the necessary two-thirdsmajority.

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