US ambassador calls for anti-corruption campaigners' release in China

The United States has called for political prisoners in China to be freed, expressing concern at the trials of anti-corruption activists in the Asian country.

The US ambassador in Beijing, Gary Locke, said the cases were 'retribution for their campaigns to expose official corruption'.

Locke's statement came as two more activists appeared in court in China.

According to the BBC, Zhao Changquing and Hou Xin are members of a group that wants Chinese leaders to declare their assets.

Zhao is charged with disturbing public order and faces a possible five-year sentence.

Locke said that he was deeply concerned that the 22 January trial of Chinese legal scholar Xu Zhiyong and the prosecution of other good-governance advocates, adding that the United States government calls on Chinese authorities to release Xu and other political prisoners immediately, the report said.

Locke also criticised 'the mistreatment' of foreign journalists trying to cover the Xu trial.