Official forced out after forcing businesses out

BEIJING - A township official in Southwest China was suspended from his post in response to allegations that he had forced businesses to leave a commercial street.

Yuan Rentao, deputy mayor of Maotai township, in Southwest China's Guizhou province, stands accused of putting out a notice on May 1 ordering all businesses except liquor stores on the popular Huanmaonan Street to move elsewhere, according to China Central Television (CCTV).

CCTV reported that the businesses were given two days to leave, promised no compensation and offered no help in re-establishing themselves.