(Clearwisdom.net)

WASHINGTON, July 18 The United States said on Friday it has protested to China about the treatment of U.S. citizen Charles Li, a member of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement jailed in China who has complained of mistreatment.

A Chinese court sentenced Li, who is also known as Chuck Lee and is from Menlo Park, California, to three years in prison in March for sabotaging television broadcasts.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that a U.S. consular officer on Wednesday spoke to Li, who complained of mistreatment by Chinese prison authorities and who said he has been forced to attend anti-Falun Gong study groups.

''We have protested his treatment to appropriate prison authorities,'' Boucher said, adding that the U.S. embassy in Beijing and the U.S. consulate in Shanghai had raised the issue with China's foreign ministry and with provincial officials.

Boucher did not describe how Li said he had been mistreated, but the spokesman said his health was a matter of concern to the United States.

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