BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Exhaustion was the top killer of Chinese police in 2007, as it was cited for causing 211 deaths of police recorded nationwide.

    Wu Heping, the Ministry of Public Security spokesman, said in an on-line interview on Tuesday that 452 police died on duty in 2007. Among them, 211, with an average age of 41.14 years, died from exhaustion, up 20.6 percent year-on-year. He added 72 percent died of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.

    Traffic accidents were also a major contributor of casualties, according to the spokesman.

    Seven police died during fights with criminal suspects, down 65percent from the 2006 figure. Wu attributed the drop to the enhanced tactics training and combating capacity of the force.

    In addition, 3,345 police were injured on duty last year.

    Wu revealed four police died in the relief during the month-long disaster caused by freezing temperatures, icy rain and heavy snow this year.

    More than 34,000 police were either injured or rendered sick.