China investigates attack on Belgian journalists

BEIJING: Chinese authorities are investigating allegations by members of a Belgian television crew, who say they were pulled from their vehicle, beaten and had their notes and money taken, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

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The attack last week came just over a month after China announced that relaxed reporting regulations for foreign media, put in place for the Olympics, would become permanent. Journalists are now supposed to be able to travel and report freely in most areas of China, but certain topics remain sensitive, especially with local officials. "Eight thugs pulled their van over, reached inside to unlock the doors, dragged the crew on to the road and punched them into submission," according to an account of the attack circulated by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China. It was the second time the crew had been stopped that day, the report said. More...

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