China to probe seventh month forced abortion

China has said it is investigating the case of a woman who was allegedly forced to abort seven months into her
pregnancy, after images posted online of the baby's corpse caused an uproar.
Activists have criticised authorities in north China's Shaanxi province for allegedly forcing Feng Jianmei to abort her pregnancy because she failed to pay a hefty fine for exceeding China's "one-child" population control policy.

The government of Zhenping county, where the abortion took place, has since promised a "transparent probe" under a special committee, while national family planning officials said any perpetrators would be punished.

An official at the National Population and Family Planning Commission who declined to be named said the commission viewed the matter as "serious and important" and that the investigation was being handled at the "top level".