Residents of Liangshan, a remote part of southwestern China, say abject poverty, drug abuse and a lack of jobs have driven many children to work in factories in coastal cities.

Residents of Liangshan, a remote part of southwestern China, say abject poverty, drug abuse and a lack of jobs have driven many children to work in factories in coastal cities.

Authorities said they had ?rescued? more than 100 children from factories in a manufacturing center.

Authorities said they had ?rescued? more than 100 children from factories in a manufacturing center known for exporting toys, textiles and electronics.

China said that it was investigating whether hundreds or perhaps thousands of children were sold as slave laborers.