China's former minister of land and resources went on trial here Tuesday on charges of accepting bribes.

At the Beijing Municipal No. 2 Intermediate People's Court, Tian Fengshan was accused of accepting more than 4 million yuan (US$500,000) in bribes between 1995 and 2003, when he was governor of northeast Heilongjiang Province and later land and resources minister.

The bribe money was confiscated when Tian was fired from his post two years ago.

The court heard Tian's defense but has not yet issued a verdict.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2005)