Taiwanese legislators shoved one another, threw paper and splashed water about the chamber as the island's legislature resumed business after the summer break.
Demanding that Premier Frank Hsieh Chang-ting step down over last month's riot by Thai workers in Kaohsiung, legislators from the pan-blue opposition alliance, who control the 225-seat legislature, did all they could to prevent Mr Hsieh from delivering his administrative report to the lawmaking body.
'Step down, step down,' they shouted, unfurling white banners accusing the government of corruption.
The row was over the awarding of a contract to a manpower management company whose inhumane and unfair treatment of Thai labourers led to one of the worst workers' riots seen in Taiwan.
'The premier must step down to take political responsibility,' said legislator Chou Hsi-wei, from the main opposition Kuomintang.
The opposition legislators also criticised the Democratic Progressive Party government of benefiting its supporters through the privatisation of state enterprises.
They also claimed a government plan to purchase sophisticated weapons from the US had been rejected by the public through a referendum last year and it was improper for the government to proceed with it.
