Fay receives four strokes

The US yesterday denounced the caning of Michael Fay, 18, in Singapore, but beyond making a formal complaint, there seemed little Washington could do, writes A prison doctor who examined Fay 'found him in satisfactory condition'.

Hours after the announcement that Fay had received four lashes at the prison where he is serving a four-month sentence for vandalism, President Clinton said the caning was 'a mistake'.