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Page last updated at 04:34 GMT, Tuesday, 29 December 2009

British man said to be mentally ill executed in China

A British man convicted of drug smuggling in China has been executed, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

Akmal Shaikh, 53, of London, had denied any wrongdoing and his family said he was mentally ill.

The execution took place despite repeated calls from his family and the British government for clemency.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was appalled and condemned the execution "in the strongest terms".

Mr Shaikh is the first EU national to be executed in China in 50 years.