CHINA yesterday executed a man who had bombed the tax office in Hunan province. Four persons were killed, and 17 others injured in this incident. Liu Zhuiheng, 52, was sentenced to death in last December. The Supreme People's Court later upheld the sentence after a review.

Bomb attacks have become common in the recent years. They are carried out by individuals who are upset over perceived injustices, business brawls or other pressures associated with the modernisation of the economy.

As per Amnesty International, China executes more people than the rest of the world combined every year.