Female activists freed in China

Five Chinese female activists arrested while trying to launch a campaign against sexual harassment were set free on bail overnight, human rights organisations confirmed on Tuesday.

Their arrest in March triggered demands from governments and NGOs around the world for their release.

A lawyer for the detained activists, Wang Qiushi, told Efe news agency late on Monday that he expected three of them -- Wang Man, Zheng Churan and Wei Tingting -- to be set free, while news that the other two -- Wu Rongrong and Li Tingting -- would join them was confirmed early Tuesday.

"The decision to release all five women is an encouraging breakthrough," Amnesty International said in a statement, adding the caveat that authorities still needed to drop any charges which the women may be facing.

Though the public prosecutor's office has approved their release, their lawyers say the activists did not enjoy "total liberty" as the release was conditional and included bans on travel and talking to the media.

The five activists, aged between 20 and 35, were arrested just prior to International Women's Day on March 8, for planning an anti-sexual harassment campaign by posting stickers and distributing pamphlets in public transport in several Chinese cities.

Their arrest set off a wave of protests in China and around the world, led by activists and NGOs.

The international community was quick to join the chorus, with US Secretary of State John Kerry and US Vice President Joe Biden among many to voice their concerns in the days that followed.

China responded by saying this constituted interference in its internal affairs.

"We urge the United States to respect China's judicial sovereignty and not use any pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said on Monday when questioned about the matter at a press conference.