Police have arrested two cousins suspected of murdering a Beijing police officer, according to the Ministry of Public Security website.

Zhang Xinliang, 34, was caught at 10:30 PM on Thursday, and his cousin Zhang Xinlei, 23, was seized at 6 AM on Friday in their home county of Xihua, central China's Henan Province. The two men, both from Houliucheng village, are being questioned.?

Zhang Xinlei

Zhang Xinliang

They are suspected of killing Tang Chengwen after being stopped by Tang at midnight on Monday in Beijing's Mentougou District, in the western suburbs of Beijing, according to the police.

The suspects were driving in a white van when they were chased and stopped by Tang, who had been ordered to stop the vehicle as it was believed to have been carrying stolen cables.

A confrontation ensued in which Tang died. But the press officer of the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) would not disclose details about how he was killed. The men are believed to have dumped Tang's body, the white van and cables after the clash. Tang was robbed of money and his weapons.

Police had offered a 100,000 yuan (about US$12,500) reward for anyone who helped the police detain the fugitives. However, the?Public Security Bureau?would not reveal if public information led to the apprehension of the suspects.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)