Chinese chemical company boss loses job over toxic spill

The head of a Chinese chemical company blamed for a toxic spill that poisoned a major river and strained relations with Russia has been removed from his post, the company said today.

The announcement came as the spill of benzene on the Songhua River flowed toward the north-eastern city of Jiamusi, which shut down a water plant on Friday as a precaution against contamination. The slick is due to reach Jiamusi tomorrow, followed by the Russian city of Khabarovsk next Sunday.