Student protesters started to leave the "Legislative Yuan" in Taipei on Thursday after occupying the building since March 18 in protest at a cross-Straits service trade pact.

The student leaders said the protest had met its goals, including the call for legalizing the scrutiny mechanism on future cross-Straits agreements.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou welcomed the decision to leave the legislative chamber and allow the legislative authority to resume operation.

Some people, wearing white shirts, launched a campaign on Thursday of fasting and sitting quietly in a square in Taipei, in a bid to show support for the trade pact, Taiwanese ETTV reported.