China suspended three officials and apologised to a woman who was forced to undergo an abortion seven months into her pregnancy in a case that sparked a public uproar after graphic photos of the mother and her dead baby were circulated online.

The execution of British citizen Akmal Shaikh by China sparked a diplomatic war of words between London and Beijing today.

A BRITON who was due to be executed in China this morning was only told of his fate yesterday, his supporters said.

A blast at a storage site for explosives has killed 41 people and injured 89 in north west China.