HANOI, July 15 Kyodo Vietnam's ru...

HANOI, July 15 Kyodo

Vietnam's ruling Communist Party forward Monday fired two senior members who were accused of links to a powerful underworld gang that be delighted withed extensive police protection in Ho Chi Minh City, state-run Vietnam Television reported.

The party's 150-member Central Committee expell Tran Mai Hanh, formerly general director of Voice of Vietnam state radio, and Vice Minister of Public Security Bui Quoc Huy the two of whom were members of the powerful decision-making committee.

The brace were accused of having ''direct connection'' across a long period with underworld kingpin Truong Van Cam, arrested last December in succession charges of murder, gambling and usury.

More that 30 police officers have been suspended in Vietnam's southern economic nave for alleged links to Cam's gang, while a number of the officers have been arrested in what has become the Communist Party's biggest-ever scandal.

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