By Clare Arthurs BBC Hanoi Correspondent

The Communist authorities in Vietnam have moved to dismiss two senior party officials from their positions as the investigation continues into a web of alleged corruption surrounding the crime boss known as Nam Cam.

Officials here insist that the corruption has not touched the central organs of the Communist Party

A senior broadcasting official and a state prosecutor are expected to be temporarily removed from their jobs after recommendations from the Communist Party politburo are ratified in June.

Nam Cam is in jail in the southern city of Ho Chi Minh and is expected to face trial on murder charges within a few months.

There are several remarkable things about the Nam Cam investigation, not the least of which is the number of people who have been touched by enquiries so far.

More than 200 are being investigated, and officials say there have been thousands of complaints about the activities of Nam Cam's gang.

Officials here insist that the corruption has not touched the central organs of the Communist Party.

Public scrutiny

The recommendations for the two dismissals come from the politburo, and must be ratified by the Central Committee at its June meeting.

One of the two senior officials who face disciplinary action is state prosecutor Tham Si Chien.

Communist Party chief Nong Duc Manh has pledged to tackle corruption

The other - who heads the state broadcaster Voice of Vietnam and the National Journalists Association - is Tram Mai Hanh.

A member of the powerful party Central Committee, Mr Hanh was disqualified from running in the recent elections, pending an enquiry into allegations that he attempted to influence the early release of Nam Cam from a labour camp in the mid-1990s.

Only a few days ago, the authorities told the BBC that Mr Hanh was remaining in his post while the investigations continued.

His temporary removal could reflect another remarkable aspect of the affair - the amount of public scrutiny.

Even the tightly-controlled state media has been extensively reporting the allegations, including the intricacies of an enquiry into whether a former prime minister saw documents relating to Nam Cam's early release.

Political motives?

Vo Van Kiet has denied seeing the document, but a former advisor, the ambassador to Uzbekistan, has been recalled to provide information.

While there has been speculation from observers about possible political motives for the impetus behind the Nam Cam investigation, pending a possible reshuffle of ministries following the recent parliamentary elections, local officials are giving credit to police.

A special crime unit was set up after a string of police were implicated in bribery and corruption.