The Chinese government has agreed to a cash settlement with the family of a woman who was forced to undergo an abortion because they could not afford a fine for having a second child under the country's tough one-child policy.

Feng Jianmei was forced to abort her baby seven months into her pregnancy because she did not have 40,000 yuan to pay the fine.

The June incident renewed criticism against China's tough family planning rules.

Feng's husband Deng Jiyuan said today that the government agreed to pay the family 70,600 yuan. He said his family wanted to return to a normal life.

They are villagers from central Shaanxi province.

Chinese authorities have apologised for the incident and fired two officials and sanctioned five others.

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