Doctor held in China for infant trafficking

A woman gynaecologist has been detained in northwest China's Shaanxi province on suspicion of infant trafficking, police said.

The gynaecologist, surnamed Zhang, from Fuping County Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital allegedly sold a newborn July 17 to a man and woman from Shanxi province for 21,600 yuan (around $3,500), Xinhua cited the public security bureau as saying.

Police said Zhang lied to the mother of the baby born July 16. He told the mother that her child had a congenital infectious disease and disability, and then tricked the woman into letting her handle the baby.

The mother believed her baby was abducted and reported the incident to police.

The two people from Shanxi have also been detained. They said they later sold the baby to someone else for 30,000 yuan.

Police have launched a search for the second buyers and the baby.