Monday, 28-Apr-2003

BEIJING, April 29 (AFP) - Two editors at China's state-run Xinhua news agency have been sacked for publishing a document about the SARS epidemic that the government wanted to keep secret, a press watchdog said Tuesday.

Yang Zidi, a senior editor at Xinhua, and the unidentified head of the agency's foreign desk were dismissed for publishing a government advisory on the virus, Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.

Unknown to Yang, the document, originating from the Communist Party brass, had carried a code indicating it was confidential, the press group said.

"The item in question was put out in the interest of curbing the virus and its revelation did not in any way undermine law and order," said Robert Menard, the organization's secretary general.

"The reaction is part of the authorities' attitude to SARS right from the beginning of the epidemic trying to hush up any negative news about it."

Xinhua news agency would not immediately comment on the report Tuesday. While the two editors have been relieved, they are expected to be given positions elsewhere at Xinhua, Reporters Without Borders said.

http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/ab/Qhealth-sars-china-media.RArV_DAT.html