China offers reward to break schoolchild vice ring

BEIJING, July 25 (Reuters) China is offering a 100,000 yuan (13,200 dollar) reward for information that leads to the detention of a couple who are believed to have forced primary and high school children into prostitution, the Beijing News said today.

The newspaper named and printed pictures of the couple who were said to have forced girls into prostitution in the southern province of Guizhou since March 2006.

''Those who offer useful clues or help police seize one or both suspects can receive 50,000 yuan each,'' the report said.

A similar case was reported earlier this month in Guizhou, the newspaper reported. Two teachers forced at least 18 children aged between 13 and 17 into prostitution.

''Several victims in that case lost the ability to bear children,'' the Beijing News said.

Police detained eight suspects over the case but another four suspects were at large, the report said. It did not make clear if the cases were related.

REUTERS RC RAI0931