Death for purse snatching

A southern Chinese province has extended the nation's widespread use of the death penalty to "purse snatchers".

Amnesty has called for the decision, in Guangdong province, to be overturned. The previous maximum penalty for violent theft of bags or purses had been three years' jail - now the minimum sentence.

Motorcyclists in Guangdong have grabbed purses from pedestrians, sometimes using knives to cut the straps. Amnesty said the death penalty decision would not cut crime levels.