Funeral of dissident Chinese bishop

There are conflicting reports over the number of mourners at the funeral of the Vatican-appointed Roman Catholic bishop of Beijing, Monsignor Mattia Pei Shangde, who was not recognised by the Chinese authorities.

Vatican Radio reported eyewitnesses saying more than 3,000 people went to the ceremony in Zhangjiapu near Beijing, in spite of a reported ban imposed on those residing outside the village.

Chinese officials said that 200 local people attended the event.

Monsignor Pei, who spent 10 years in a labour camp after China broke off relations with the Vatican in 1958, died last week.

The state-sanctioned Patriotic Church does not recognise the Pope's authority, but the underground Roman Catholic church in China is loyal to the Vatican and is believed to have several million followers.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service