IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Beijing

Religious interests to be safeguarded

China will better manage religious personnel and safeguard the legal interests of the religious community, authorities said on Thursday. A spokesman for the State Administration for Religious Affairs said it has "paid great attention" to reports about Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Shaolin Temple and vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China. The administration has asked the Henan provincial Religious Department to verify accusations made against the abbot. His accuser, Shi Zhengyi, posted a series of allegations on the Internet that claimed Shi was an "embezzler and womanizer" and had illegitimate children.