An official in southwest China has been removed from his post after being absent from disaster-relief work for 18 days.

Pu Dekun, the former deputy director of Qiandong economic and industrial zone in Qiandongnan prefecture of southwest Guizhou Province, was demoted from his former post for not being able to show up during local snow disaster-relief work from January 14 to February 1.

The former official did not ask for leave during the period, according to local discipline inspection authorities.

Pu attributed his absence to snow-caused transportation problems, his parents' illness, which were all vetoed as not truthful by local authorities.

Local discipline commission said Pu had violated relevant public servant laws, failed to live up to the standards of communist party leaders, and exerted negative social influence.

Since mid-January, China witnessed the heaviest snow in decades, and disasters caused by prolonged low temperatures, icy rain and heavy snow in the southern provinces and regions had killed more than 100 people and caused 111.1 billion yuan in direct economic loss.

Guizhou was among one of the worst-hit provinces.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2008)