Police in China have detained several prominent dissidents.

Activists say it is a concerted move to stifle efforts to set up a pro-democracy political party.

More than twenty police raided the Beijing home of the veteran activist, Xu Wenli, taking him away and removing thousands of documents relating to the China Democracy Party.

Three others associated with the party were detained in Wuhan, and the police are reported to have picked up two more in Hangzhou.

Dissident groups said the detentions, in three cities on the same day, appeared to suggest that the authorities were growing concerned about support for the Democracy Party.

The former Chinese Prime Minister, Li Peng, who remains a powerful member of the leadership, has reaffirmed in an interview that any organisation seeking a multi-party system -- and trying to negate the leadership of the Communist Party -- will not be allowed to exist.