Cover-ups occurred in 12 coal mine accidents in China in the first three months of this year, said Li Yizhong, Minister of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), on Wednesday.

Those responsible for industrial safety had sabotaged the scenes, destroyed incriminating evidence and moved bodies, Li said at a meeting.

Most of those responsible had been brought to justice by local governments and public security departments.

Li said the number of mine accidents rose 153.8 percent from February to 99 in March, while the number of people killed and missing soared to 279 from 81.

Four accidents occurred from March 18 to 29, killing 72 people in total.

Illegal operations resulted in 41 percent of the fatal accidents in March and 81.8 percent of the accidents occurred in privately-owned mines, according to figures from the SAWS.

The SAWS planned to close 4,000 small coal mines this year, bringing the total number of closures since 2005 to 10,000, said Li.

Small coal mines account for a third of all coal mines in China, but account for two thirds of the total deaths every year.

The government has launched another crackdown on cover-ups and dishonest reports of colliery accidents filed by mine owners after the falling death toll rebounded in March.

The SAWS has vowed to work with public security departments to crack down on crimes regarding industrial safety and to bring those responsible to justice.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2007)