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Friction rejected as cause of mayor's exit

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The sudden departure of Shanghai's former mayor, Xu Kuangdi, in December was due to his age and not a policy dispute, the city's new mayor said yesterday.

Chen Liangyu, 56, also suggested that Mr Xu, who was moved to an academic post in Beijing, might have another job in the central Government in the future.

'I can tell you clearly this had to do with his age,' Mr Chen said in his first news conference since he was confirmed in his post on Tuesday. 'There would be many people opposed if you don't step down at the required age.'

Government officials are supposed to retire at 65 but they can stay on beyond that once they reach the Communist Party's top levels.

Mr Xu, 64, was technically eligible to serve out his term but was widely believed to have encountered friction in his relations with Huang Ju, the city's Communist Party chief.

The popular mayor's sudden departure, and the brief explanation given in the official media, was seen as evidence of infighting ahead of the party's 16th congress in autumn. Decisions will be made then on who fills the top jobs in the party and Government.

'It is true that in some places there are conflicts between the party and the Government,' Mr Chen said. 'But Shanghai is not like that.'

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