Hangzhou, March 19 (Xinhua) A former editor-in-chief of a Chinese website has been given a six-year prison term for subversion, according to a statement from the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court in east China.

The court ruled Monday that Zhang Jianhong, former editor-in-chief of a website named "Aiqinhai", or "Aegean Sea", had written articles which defaming the Chinese government and instigated agitation to topple the government.

The court found that Zhang had published over 110 articles under the pseudonym "Lihong" on overseas websites from May to September 2006. In more than 60 articles, he had slandered the government and China's social system to vent his discontent with the government, it said.

Zhang was also deprived of his political rights for one year, the court ruled.

The court showed leniency in the trial as Zhang showed remorse after his arrest. It had protected Zhang's procedural rights and Zhang's lawyer had been given adequate opportunity to defend him, the statement said.

Zhang, born in Ningbo in 1958, of Han nationality, was unemployed after his website was shut down.