Google's services unable to reach much of China

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (AP) - Google says its search engine and other Internet services have been cut off from much of China just as the country's ruling party picks new leaders.

Data posted on Google's website shows its services in China became largely inaccessible beginning around 1am (5pm Singapore time) on Friday.

A Google spokesman says the company found no problems in its own computer or network that would disrupt its services in China.

That raised the possibility that China's Communist Party decided to block Google's services at a politically sensitive time.