State Department spokesman talks about expulsions of Americans from China

China swiftly expelled six Americans and more than two dozen other Westerners who protested in the heart of Beijing against the government's repression of the Falun Gong spiritual movement.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher speaking about the case on Wednesday said that although U.S authorities are aware of reports that the detainees were struck by police, these reports have not been confirmed.

By Wednesday evening, little more than 24 hours after they chanted, sat cross-legged and unveiled a banner on Tiananmen Square, all 35 protesters had been forced to leave the country, China's official Xinhua News Agency said.

It said they were treated with "humanitarian concern," contradicting Falun Gong claims that some were slapped and kicked by police.
Bureau Report