Millions still stranded

Millions remained stranded in China yesterday ahead of the biggest holiday of the year as President Hu Jintao chaired an emergency meeting to discuss how to beat the worst winter weather in half a century.

The freezing storms have killed scores of people and left travellers stranded before the Lunar New Year, the only opportunity many people have to take a holiday. It has also brought China unwanted negative publicity months before the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Forecasters have said the cold and snow could persist for days to come.