China covering Olympic deaths

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- China has covered up the accidental deaths of at least 10 workers at a stadium being built for the 2008 Summer Olympics, it was alleged Sunday.

Witnesses reportedly told The Sunday Times of London they saw workers fall to their deaths during the construction of a "bird's nest" in a stadium for the summer games.

One eyewitness said after a worker fell to his death, "the body was taken away immediately and everyone on the spot was told to keep it secret."

Some workers on the site say the families of the victims received more $25,000 in compensation payments, compared to the $6 average daily wage paid to laborers.

The Times estimates at least 10 deaths occurred since 2003 when the construction started.

Workers told the newspaper the pressure to complete the ambitious project and Chinese labor practices contributed to the alleged cover up.

There was no comment available from the Beijing 2008 Olympic committee.