Two Chinese political websites said Friday they had been ordered by authorities to shut for a month for criticising state leaders, the latest move in a broad government crackdown on the Internet. Officials told the Mao Flag website, named after late leader Mao Zedong, and the Utopia website, also known for a leftist political stance, to close for “rectification”, the sites said in separate announcements. Authorities said their postings had “maliciously attacked state leaders” and given “absurd views” about politics, according to statements posted on the websites. Those statements, dated Friday, were later removed. The operators could not be reached for comment and content on the sites was unavailable. The latest crackdown comes after a surge in online rumours in China, including one about a coup led by security chief Zhou Yongkang, following the March dismissal of rising political star Bo Xilai.
