Wanted man Zhou Kehua killed by Chinese police

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security said police in Chongqing city tracked down and killed Zhou Kehua

An armed robber suspected of killing nine people has been shot dead by police in China, authorities said today.

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security said police in south-west Chongqing city tracked down and killed 42-year-old Zhou Kehua, who was one of China's most wanted fugitives.

The ministry said Zhou is believed to have been responsible for the gun deaths of several people in Chongqing and two other Chinese cities since 2004.

It said he shot one person dead and injured two others in an armed bank robbery in the city on Friday.

China bans private ownership of guns, and armed robberies are rare. State media said Zhou's death brought relief to both police and the public.