TAIPEI, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwan flexed its military muscles Wednesday, showing off two home-developed missiles in a rare parade seen as a reminder to China that it has the weaponry to defend itself.

In a televised National Day address, President Chen Shui-bian said China's own military build-up posed a threat to world peace, and urged it to withdraw nearly 1,000 ballistic and cruise missiles aimed at the island.

He also insisted Taiwan would continue to press for a referendum on joining the United Nations under its own name.

TAIPEI, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwan flexed its military muscles Wednesday, showing off two home-developed missiles in a rare parade seen as a reminder to China that it has the weaponry to defend itself.

In a televised National Day address, President Chen Shui-bian said China's own military build-up posed a threat to world peace, and urged it to withdraw nearly 1,000 ballistic and cruise missiles aimed at the island.

He also insisted Taiwan would continue to press for a referendum on joining the United Nations under its own name.

TAIPEI, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwan flexed its military muscles Wednesday, showing off two home-developed missiles in a rare parade seen as a reminder to China that it has the weaponry to defend itself.

In a televised National Day address, President Chen Shui-bian said China's own military build-up posed a threat to world peace, and urged it to withdraw nearly 1,000 ballistic and cruise missiles aimed at the island.

He also insisted Taiwan would continue to press for a referendum on joining the United Nations under its own name.

TAIPEI, Oct 8, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwan is to showcase for the first time two locally developed missiles in a show of strength this week aimed at warning rival China that it is capable of striking back if attacked.

The island's military will unveil the supersonic Hsiung-feng 3 (Brave Wind) ship-to-ship missile and the Tien Kung 3 (Sky Bow) anti-missile system at Wednesday's National Day parade, Defence Minister Lee Tien-yu said Monday.

TAIPEI, Oct 8, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwan could showcase for the first time a locally developed cruise missile in a show of strength this week aimed at warning rival China that it is capable of striking back if attacked.

Taiwan's defence ministry declined to deny speculation that it would show off the missile during Wednesday's National Day military parade -- the first in 16 years.

'The display of military equipment is a kind of effective deterrent, so the Chinese communists will be aware that Taiwan is tough,' defence minister Lee Tien-yu said last week.

STOCKHOLM, Aug 2, 2007 (AFP) - The Swedish Lutheran Church will march for for the first time in the Gay Pride parade in Stockholm under the slogan 'Love is stronger that everything', the Church announced on Thursday.

'For the first time ever, the parade at the Pride festival will have a delegation from the Swedish Church,' it said in a statement.

The parade will go through the streets of the Swedish capital on Saturday.

The Church said the delegation would include about 30 people including two deans from the Stockholm and Uppsala cathedrals.