BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Authorities in north China's Hebei province have arrested 180 alleged followers of the Falungong culton charges related to the sabotaging of measures to curb the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

　　Provincial authorities dealt with 81 instances of alleged Falungong adherents spreading the cult doctrines and undermining anti-SARS operations, the People's Daily reported on Friday.

　　The charges include conducting activities to promote Falungong and attempting to incite social disorder by fabricating and spreading false rumors about SARS, said the newspaper.

　　Since mid-April, alleged Falungong followers in Chengde, Zhangjiakou, Langfang, Baoding, Cangzhou, Hengshui and other areaspeddled their "doomsday" fallacy in an attempt to incite public panic.

　　Other fallacies allegedly spread by the cult followers included"You will not contract SARS if you practice the cult of Falungong or carry leaflets about Falungong" and "Your immunity will be boosted because Falungong followers have developed super white blood cells."

　　As a result, some reformed Falungong followers are alleged to have resumed practicing in the cult.

　　The latest alleged activities of Hebei Falungong adherents havedrawn the attention of the provincial Party and government authorities. A source with the provincial government said that thecult organization was being closely monitored and its activities would be halted. Enditem