More melamine suspects face trial in China

SHIJIAZHUANG, China, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Four more people from China's dairy industry went on trial Monday on charges they produced milk products tainted with melamine, officials said.

The four, who faced charges in a local court in Shijiazhuang, capital of northern Hebei province, joined six other dairy industry figures whose trials began Friday elsewhere in Hebei, Xinhua, the state-run Chinese news agency, reported.

The defendants are accused of producing, selling or adding protein powder that contained melamine to raw milk. Chinese health officials say it's likely melamine contamination killed six babies, while another 294,000 infants suffered from urinary problems such as kidney stones.

Also to stand trial this week is Tian Wenhua, former board chairwoman and general manager of the Sanlu Group, which has filed for bankruptcy after being forced to stop milk production in September, Xinhua reported.