China has investigated and prosecuted 557 government officials in a campaign launched two years ago to crack down on crime.

The officials have been punished for colluding with and protecting criminals, according to the Procuratorial Daily.

The officials included Zhang Xilai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Jincheng City Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in north China's Shanxi Province and head of the local authority for party affairs, and Shen Zhicheng, deputy party chief of the Qitaihe City Committee of the CPC in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The blacklist also includes Chen Qihao and Zhou Xingeng, both deputy directors of the Public Security Bureau of Pingxiang City, east China's Jiangxi Province.

Public opinion shows that the move demonstrates the resolution of China's procuratorial organs to uphold justice and equality and to fight corruption, the paper said.

（Xinhua News Agency January 3, 2004）