An official with a local committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a government advisory body, was found dead at his home in the northwestern province of Shaanxi on Saturday, and local officials said he appeared to have been murdered.

Cai Jianmin, 59, was vice chairman of the Xianyang City Committee of the CPPCC.

Police in Xianyan, a historic city in Shaanxi, confirmed that they were informed of Cai's death at 3 PM on Saturday and are investigating.

No further details are available.

Cai, a native of Liquan, also in Shaanxi, was well-known locally for his calligraphy. He graduated from the Northwest Agricultural Sciences University in 1976. He had no party affiliation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2008)