The head of a central China public security bureau has been fired for delays in the investigation and rescue of eight abducted children.

A team from the Henan Provincial Department of Public Security were investigating the Xichuan police bureau and could punish more police officers after firing bureau head Xu Xin, said department head Qin Yuhai.

Qin, also vice governor of Henan, made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing Henan legislative session.

The failure to properly investigate the abductions showed the local bureau had failed in its care for the public, "or they were indifferent to people's suffering", Qin said.

"Although Xichuan police have done a lot of work, they failed to resolve the case in a timely manner and report it to the higher authorities, which is against the rules," he said.

Eight children, aged two to eight, were abducted in six incidents from April 15 to Dec. 8 last year. The delays in the investigation prompted public anxiety and criticism.

Early this month, police broke up a child trafficking gang and detained 10 suspects accused in the serial abduction of nine children, including eight from Xichuan and the other from neighboring Xixia County.

All the children were returned physically unharmed to their families.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2008)