Jiangsu's Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has announced the dismissal of Xu Guojian, a senior Party official, for taking bribes, sources said on Tuesday.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection decided Xu be expelled and discharged from public employment, and suggested he be dismissed from his post as deputy to the Provincial People's Congress, or the legislature, according to law and brought to court.

The commission's decision was announced to Party cadres in the east China province on Monday.

Xu was charged with taking 4.6 million yuan and US$8,000 in bribes, and 100,000 yuan in gift money.

He was discharged from his positions as member of the Standing Committee and head of the CPC Provincial Committee's Organization Department in June.

"As a leading Party cadre, Xu has severely violated Party discipline by accepting bribes and has created an odious influence in and outside of the Party," said Li Yuanchao, secretary of the CPC Provincial Committee .

Li told all Party cadres to show greater self-discipline and urged provincial government to intensify efforts to combat corruption.

The central government has vowed to crack down on corruption and has sacked several ministry-level officials over the past two years.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2004)