The two top officials in Inner Mongolia have reportedly been the subject of corruption investigations by the Communist Party's discipline watchdog.

Chu Bo, 62, party secretary of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Yang Jing, 53, chairman of the regional government, were reportedly questioned by a team sent by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

A power struggle between the two men, both candidates for representatives to the 17th party Congress this autumn, had surfaced ahead of the meeting, the centre said.

The party disciplinary watchdog had received complaints and accusations against both men, and an investigation team sent to Inner Mongolia in the middle of last month had left last week, the centre said.

Mr Chu and Mr Yang were questioned but were performing their duties as usual and were not under shuanggui - disciplinary procedures for party members - the centre quoted a source saying.

"Currently, Inner Mongolia is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and no high-level officials will be punished," the source said.

Coinciding with the centre's report, the overseas Chinese news portal Duowei reported an investigation had been launched into Mr Chu.

He reportedly told investigators he had never taken bribes, and would co-operate with the investigation.

The Duowei report alleged that Mr Chu's son, Chu Huibin, 36, had accepted bribes from Mr Yang and the former chairman of dairy giant Yili Group Zheng Junhuai , who was jailed in 2005 for embezzlement. The report said the son took advantage of his father's position and interfered in the granting of government contracts and promotions.

An initial estimate put the value of Chu Huibin's business activities at 2 billion yuan, the report said. Knowing that an investigation had been launched, the son fled to Australia with 1.5 billion yuan, it said. The Duowei report said Mr Chu was also questioned over speculation on iron ore mines.

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