China tries US engineer

An American engineer accused by China of bribery and obtaining state secrets has gone on trial in Beijing.

The US government has complained that the man, Fong Fuming, has already been in detention for an excessive period without his case being heard.

A consular official was present as the trial started.

China says Mr Fong, president of a Hong Kong power company who was a consultant on bidding for power projects when he was held, had illegally obtained secret and confidential state documents from an engineer of the Chinese state power corporation, as well as distributing extensive bribes.

Mr Fong denies the charges, saying there was no indication that the documents were secret.

An American embassy spokesman said Mr Fong's case was one of a number raised by Washington earlier this month when a dialogue with Beijing on human rights was resumed.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service