The Vatican has protested that a Roman Catholic priest who was arrested in China has been sexually tortured by prostitutes.

The church's news agency Fides said the priest Li Qinghua is being held on suspicion that he contacted other priests from the underground Roman Catholic church in China, which is banned because of its loyalty to Rome.

The agency said the priest isbeing held in a prison cell in the northern Xushui region, where he is monitored by cameras while the prostitutes try every means to have sexual relations with him.

It says other priests have been subjected to the same treatment.