China's top Marxist dies

China's top

Marxist dies

Peking - Chen Yun, the only serious rival to the paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping, has died aged 89. A staunch defender of traditional Marxism, Chen ranked behind only 90-year-old Mr Deng among the "eight immortals," revolutionary leaders who have ruled China. Now only five survive. Chen repeatedly forced Mr Deng to slow or reverse economic reforms that have freed much of China's economy from government control. AP