China executes three for abducting and selling babies

Two men and a woman were executed today in south-western China for abducting and selling 11 boys aged two and three.

The executions were carried out in Kunming, a city in Yunnan province, where the boys were abducted between 2001 and 2003, the official Xinhua News Agency said. It said several other people convicted in the case were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six years to life.

The case comes amid a crackdown in China that has brought lengthy prison terms and a handful of death sentences for people convicted of selling scores of children.

Thousands of children are believed to be bought or abducted every year in China for sale to families who want more children, a servant or a future bride for an only son.

Xinhua identified those executed in the latest case as Yu Mingfen, a 38-year-old woman; Ren Shunbo, 24, and Ning Dewan.

Yu and Ren were convicted of abducting the boys from several villages and selling them to Ning, who resold them to other traffickers, the report said, citing Zhu Zhengyu, the judge in the case.

The boys eventually were sold for 11,000 yuan (£700) each in the south-eastern province of Fujian, Xinhua said.

It said seven boys were recovered but four were still missing.