Governor quits; slush toll hits 254

TAIYUAN: The Shanxi province governor resigned, and vice-governor was removed, for the liquid iron-ore waste flow in Xiangfen county that has killed 254 people.

Meng Xuenong's resignation was accepted at the fifth session of the standing committee of the 11th Shanxi provincial people's congress, which removed Vice-Governor Zhang Jianmin, too.

Wang Jun, minister of the State Administration of Work Safety, has been appointed acting and vice-governor of Shanxi. The 56-year-old was named head of the top work safety watchdog in March.