Asia-Pacific news

Chinese experts say avian flu more lethal

Beijing Scientists in China report that a strain of the flu virus circulating among ducks in Asia is getting progressively more lethal to mammals.

Researchers at Harbin Veterinary Research Institute found that none of the virus strains made ducks sick; most of their tested strains were highly dangerous to chickens; and, in mice, the virus kept growing more lethal.

The research is seen as key because the virus jumped to people in Hong Kong in 1997, killing six.

Doctor faces pressure

Beijing Chinese officials are forcing an elderly physician who exposed the government’s cover-up of the SARS epidemic to attend indoctrination classes and are interrogating him about a letter he wrote denouncing the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, according to sources familiar with the case.

The officials have detained Jiang Yanyong, 72, a semi-retired surgeon in the People’s Liberation Army, and have threatened to keep him until he “changes his thinking” and “raises his level of understanding” about the Tiananmen crackdown, according to one source.

Jiang, who became a national hero last year after blowing the whistle on the government’s efforts to hide the SARS outbreak, has refused to back down, a source said.

Jiang’s detention began June 1. In response to questions by The Washington Post, the government said: “Jiang Yanyong, as a soldier, recently violated the relevant discipline of the military. Based on relevant regulations, the military has been helping and educating him.”

Anti-terror training set

Manila, Philippines U.S. forces will provide guerrilla-style combat training to Filipino soldiers battling Muslim and communist insurgents and al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah militants, officials said Monday.

The anti-terror maneuvers from July 26 to Aug. 14 will bring U.S. Special Forces trainers to North Cotabato province, a new southern training ground for the Americans. Muslim separatists and Marxist rebels are active in the region, officials said.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a close Washington ally, allowed American troops to arm and train Filipino soldiers battling Abu Sayyaf Muslim guerrillas in southern Zamboanga city and nearby Basilan island two years ago.

Raid frees 70 children

Manila Philippines Philippine authorities rescued about 70 children, ages 5 to 12, in a raid on the house of a suspected child pornography ring, officials said Monday.

Seven suspected members of the syndicate, including a Japanese man, were arrested in the raid Saturday at a resort about 43 miles south of Manila.

Some were caught taking photographs of nude children, an official said. The children were to be returned to their families.

Those arrested will be charged for violating a human trafficking law, punishable by life in prison, an official said.