Chinese lawyers blocked from meeting US reps

BEIJING (AP) - Police blocked Chinese dissident lawyers from attending a meeting with two visiting U.S. lawmakers, the lawmakers and a human rights group said Tuesday. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., and New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, a senior Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had planned to dine with the group on Sunday night. Police either took the lawyers away or placed them under house arrest before the meeting took place, they said. In remarks to reporters Tuesday, the congressmen said such moves underscore the deterioration of human rights ahead of next month's Olympic Games, despite pledges by Chinese officials that holding the games would give a boost to China's rights situation. "The reality has been numbingly disappointing," Smith said, referring to conditions for political dissidents, human rights activists,... [read full story]                    

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