THE Governor of Gansu province, Yan Haiwang, has resigned weeks after riot police in its capital city took over a chemical factory following a bloody confrontation which resulted in two dead and a dozen people injured.
Xinhua (the New China News Agency) said the provincial People's Congress had accepted Mr Yan's resignation.
It said Vice-Governor Zhang Wule was named acting Governor.
Mr Yan, believed to be in his 50s, was only elected as governor of the impoverished province in February.
The Nanfang Weekend said hundreds of workers in a chemical factory in Lanzhou attacked protesters demonstrating against the illegal disposal of toxic waste on August 14.
Mr Yan, who went to the scene, said: ''This accident should never have happened.'' Meanwhile, Xinhua also reported that the party committee head of the central province of Hunan, Xiong Qingquan, had been relieved of his post.