Lawyers Call for Release of Abortion Rights Activist

Chinese lawyers are risking retribution from the authorities by issuing an open letter calling for the release from house arrest of Chen Guangcheng, who helped expose a forced abortion scandal last month. Their petition comes amid concerns that Mr Chen will be charged with passing on state secrets because he revealed the illegal activities of local family planning officials who were desperate to reach birth control quotas. Those responsible are being investigated. Friends say Mr Chen's house is surrounded by police cars and his landline has been cut off.