Beijing

Officials held in quake rebuilding

A total of 82 Party officials have been held for criminal responsibility for wrongdoing in the rebuilding of quake-ravaged areas in Southwest China, according to an exhibition by anti-corruption authorities in Beijing.

All the officials were charged with misuse of goods and funds earmarked for quake relief.

The exhibition, which opened on Sunday, is intended to showcase anti-graft efforts during the reconstruction of parts of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, where a devastating earthquake killed nearly 90,000 people in May 2008. A total of 421 Party officials have received penalties, including criminal sentences.

Aid for drought-stricken Africa

China has provided 533 million yuan ($82.3 million) in aid to Africa. A Chinese official said on Sunday that the government has provided emergency food and funds to drought-hit countries in the Horn of Africa.

Through aid and cooperation, China will improve the ability to reduce drought-related risks, a challenge that both Africa and China face, Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo said at a meeting held by the ministry and a secretariat for international disaster relief of the United Nations.

Guangdong

Villagers seek land records

Representatives of the 400 villagers in Lufeng city, Guangdong province, who protested on Sept 21 against land seizures, requested on Saturday that the local government make public the village's land transactions over the past three decades, the election of the village committee and the financial accounts of the village committee.

The city government pledged to form a work team to investigate the issues, as order returned to the village, reported the Nanfang Daily on Sunday.

Ten villagers were treated for minor injuries in a local hospital and 12 policemen were hospitalized for injuries they sustained in the protest. There were no casualties.

Yunnan

Five dead in mine collapse

Five people have been confirmed dead and another two injured after a cave-in in a coal mine shaft on Saturday in Southwest China's Yunnan province, the local government said on Sunday.

The accident happened at 3:19 pm on Saturday in a pit of the Yunwei Group, which is affiliated with the Yunnan Coal Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd in the Qilin district of Qujing city.

Seven miners were trapped underground and another 16 escaped after the accident.

China Daly - Xihua