China Halts Dam Project After Protests

China has suspended a dam project in the southwestern province of Sichuan and fired a local Communist Party official after large-scale demonstrations.

At least one person was killed last month when tens of thousands of farmers in Hanyuan county protested construction of a hydroelectric dam that will flood 100,000 people out of their homes.

The protesters were dissatisfied with the compensation offered for residents' relocation.

The local Communist Party said today that county party secretary Tan Zhengyu had been removed from his post earlier this month and replaced by a former deputy.

The central government also has sent a team to deal with the concerns of local residents. However, scores of riot police remain in the region.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.