Police in southern China's Guangdong Province have caught three suspects who allegedly murdered a local political figure and middle school principal.

Guangzhou Daily reported yesterday that two of the suspects had been caught and escorted back to Lianjiang City.

They had allegedly fled to Baise City in neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after the murder of Huang Zhaoluan, deputy chairman of the Lianjiang City Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a key advisory body to law makers. Huang was also the principal of Lianjiang Middle School.

The third suspect was seized hiding in a town near Lianjiang early on Saturday morning, the report said.

Police said all three were Lianjiang natives. Two were aged 21 and the other 18.

Police also salvaged the motorcycle the suspects allegedly used and dumped into a river after the murder, the report said.

Sources told the newspaper that police were still investigating the motive for the killing.

They have already ruled out bad debts or Huang's ongoing reform plan at the school.

Huang was killed about 6:30 am last Monday as he left home to attend the school's weekly flag-raising ceremony, Huang's driver, surnamed Qiu, told police.

Two young men rushed out and stabbed Huang five times in the legs, severing major arteries. They then fled with a third man on a motorcycle, police said.

The Lianjiang government offered a reward of up to 40,000 yuan (US$5,848) to anyone who provided clues leading to the capture of the three suspects.

Huang's death also prompted the local government to install surveillance cameras on all major roads.

(Shanghai Daily October 27, 2008)