China: 3300+ internet cafes shutdown

China reports just 3,300 Internet cafes closed since fatal June fire

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

BEIJING (AFP) - China has closed down a total of 3,300 Internet cafes in the course of a six-month crackdown, state media said Thursday.

Since a fire at an Internet cafe in Beijing killed 24 young people in June, officials have checked a total of 45,000 cafes throughout the country, Xinhua news agency said. During the inspection campaign, a further 12,000 cafes were ordered to cease business temporarily while irregularities were straightened out, the agency said.

The report suggested a less-sweeping crackdown than previous reports which had reported that more than 90,000 Internet cafes had been closed down.