China bans S Korean meat

China has announced a ban on imports of meat products from South Korea, where an outbreak of foot and mouth disease was confirmed four days ago.

The official Xinhua news agency quoted a government statement saying the ban was imposed to protect China's farming industry.

It said meat products already in China must either be destroyed or returned to South Korea.

On Monday the South Korean authorities extended a foot and mouth disease quarantine alert after a new suspected case was reported north of the capital, Seoul.

The suspect cow was later reported to have tested negative for the disease.

The authorites have already killed more than 12,000 pigs and cows in six affected farms. Japan, which is the largest importer of South Korean pork, has also suspended imports of all South Korean meat products.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service