Papers 'reveal' Chinese religious persecution

A New York-based group campaigning for religious freedom in China has released documents which the group says show in detail a Chinese Government drive to eliminate illegal religious groups.

The documents , released by the Committee for Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China through the Freedom House human rights group, describe tactics used by Chinese security forces to crush all religious activity outside the state sanctioned bodies.

The group says persecuted organisations include the underground Christian church and the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong.

Correspondents say if the documents are genuine, they throw a spotlight on the lack of religious freedom in China a few days before the American president, George Bush, visits the country.

Mr Bush has voiced concern for religious repression in China.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service