Finance minister,4 others replaced

China appointed a new finance minister amid reports that the official leaving the post was involved in a sex scandal.

The chief of secret police and three other officials also were replaced as part of a political house cleaning ahead of a Communist Party congress in October that will renew President Hu Jintao's mandate and set policy for the next five years.

Jin Renqing, the finance minister since 2003, was resigning "for personal reasons," a Cabinet spokeswoman said. Legislative spokesman He Shaoren said Jin was being replaced by Xie Xuren, who runs the tax administration.