A number of officials in Dongyang City in eastern China's Zhejiang Province were relieved from their posts Friday over an environment dispute case that led to rioting by many villagers.

An official circular released by the provincial discipline inspection authority said Tang Yong, former secretary of the Dongyang municipal committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Chen Fengwei, the ex-mayor, had been sacked.

A number of other officials responsible for the incident were also given administrative punishment or penalties in accordance with the CPC's disciplines, the circular said.

Some villagers in Huashui Township of Dongyang had complained that chemical industries polluted the environment and forced the firms to stop operation by erecting bamboo shanties at the sites on April 10.

Police failed to tear down the sheds and road blocks set up by villagers outside an industrial park housing 13 chemical factories. A number of them were injured and some vehicles were damaged in the riot.

The provincial government has set up a special team to investigate the accusations of pollution and shut down those chemical plants thought responsible.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2005)