Minister removed in wake of floods

Water Resources Minister Niu Maosheng has been removed after the summer floods which killed more than 3,500 people.

The move was approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Wang Shucheng, 56, deputy general manager of the State Power Corporation, was named as his successor.

Mr Niu, who headed the ministry for 10 years, is the first minister to go since the cabinet reshuffle in March. He had been switched to the post of deputy party secretary in Hubei province and would be a candidate for governor, Xinhua said.

An NPC legislator in Beijing said: 'This change is undoubtedly linked to the floods, but Mr Niu should not be totally blamed for the failure of flood defence.

'Instead, the central Government for the last two terms should be more responsible for the weak flood defence mechanism along the Yangtze, since it allowed special funds designated for water conservation along the river to be diverted to the Three Gorges Dam project.