Chinese man sentenced to death for school stabbing

CHINA - A man who stabbed 29 schoolchildren and three teachers has been sentenced to death.

Xu Yuyuan, 47, was found guilty of attacking a kindergarten in Taixing city in eastern Jiangsu province last month, according to state media.

A string of attacks at Chinese schools has killed a total of 27 people and injured more than 80 since March.

Xu told the court that his motive was to "vent his rage against society", the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Premier Wen Jiabao said this week the outbursts of violence stemmed from the country's social tensions.

Officials have vowed to "strike hard" against the problem.

- NZHERALD STAFF