Leading liberal retires

The Vice-Minister of Civic Affairs, Yan Mingfu, has retired.

Mr Yan, 65, had held the job since 1991, according to Xinhua (the New China News Agency).

He was a former aide to ousted Communist Party secretary Zhao Ziyang.

Mr Yan headed the United Front Department in the mid-1980s and was the former Russian interpreter for late chairman Mao Zedong. He was relieved of those positions in 1989 for alleged sympathy with the student protesters.

The Xinhua announcement did not say if Mr Yan would be given a new job.

Earlier reports said he would spend his time writing a book on Sino-Soviet relations after leaving office.