BEIJING • Communist Party officials in China who show poor leadership that causes serious problems will face punishment under new accountability rules, in the latest effort to improve discipline amid a corruption crackdown.

The rules unveiled on Sunday especially target leaders in local anti-graft bodies and hold them responsible for "serious consequences caused by negligence or poor work performance", the official Xinhua news agency said. Officials will be held accountable for party rule violations as well as poor work performance, it said.

Similar rules already exist but the new ones that went into effect on July 8 tighten procedures and punishments, which range from public naming and shaming to administrative warnings and dismissal, Xinhua said.

Those who violate party discipline, which in practice means those who engage in corruption, will also be punished.

Certain cases will be picked out for public dissemination and the officials will be held responsible for serious breach of duty for life, even if they are transferred, promoted or retire.

TURNING POINT It is a breakthrough for the Communist Party of China (CPC) to apply the accountability mechanism not only to party committees and discipline inspection committees, but also to organisation, publicity and united front work departments. PROFESSOR XIE CHUNTAO, at the CPC Central Committee Party School

President Xi Jinping has come down hard on corruption since assuming office almost four years ago, following a series of graft and extravagance scandals.

"It is a breakthrough for the Communist Party of China (CPC) to apply the accountability mechanism not only to party committees and discipline inspection committees, but also to organisation, publicity and united front work departments, which has showcased the CPC's determination of strictly governing itself," said Professor Xie Chuntao, a professor with the CPC Central Committee Party School, quoted by Xinhua.

REUTERS