China sacks officials over forced abortions

BEIJING - China has sacked and detained officials in the east of the country for forcing pregnant women to undergo abortions or sterilising couples with more than two children after an activist exposed the abuses.

The dismissals and detentions appeared to be in line with Communist Party chief and President Hu Jintao's push to instil greater official accountability since he assumed power in 2002.

Yu Xuejun, spokesman for the National Population and Family Planning Commission, said the investigation into reports of forced abortions and sterilisations by local family planning officials in Linyi city, Shandong province, began this year.

"Initial investigation indicates illegal family planning practices that violate people's legal rights and interests do exist," the official Xinhua news agency quoted Yu as saying in a report late on Monday.

The rare admission of official wrongdoing came after a blind activist, Chen Guangcheng, filed a lawsuit against Linyi officials, accusing them of forcing couples with two children to be sterilised and forcing women pregnant with a third child to undergo abortions.

Officials also were accused of detaining and beating up family members of couples who fled to avoid the forced procedures.

"Those who are responsible have been dismissed from duty. Some are under investigation, some in detention," Yu said without giving a figure for officials sacked or detained. Further measures will be taken, Xinhua said without elaborating.

Yu urged commission staff to learn a lesson from the case and "correct any infringements on citizens' rights".

- REUTERS