Reuters- Eight followers of the Falun Gong spiritual movement have launched a hunger strike in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, appealing for the release of practitioners held by Beijing, organisers said.
The group set up camp in a small park across the road from the embassy and hung banners protesting against the Government crackdown that read "SOS!" and "Justice for Falun Gong".
The protesters said they started their hunger strike on Friday to press for the release of an estimated 130 Falun Gong members from a labour camp in Liaoning province. The Liaoning practitioners launched a hunger strike three weeks ago. "We hope we can help," said Shean Lin, 30, of Birmingham, Alabama. The group said the effort was a "small reflection" of what Falun Gong followers were going through in China.
The protesters, who held prayer sessions outside the embassy and tried - unsuccessfully - to deliver their demands to the ambassador, said they would only drink water and planned to sleep in their cars.
They vowed to continue the hunger strike for as long as possible.
"I will do my best," said Jinwei Wang, 19, who lives in the Washington area and whose parents are also taking part in the protest.