US Calls Raises Concerns Over China's Treatment of Exile's Associates

The Bush administration is expressing concern over reports that China has mistreated associates of a recently released ethnic Uighur dissident currently living in the United States.

Human rights groups say Chinese authorities have beaten and detained business associates of Rebiya Kadeer, raided her businesses and even tried to arrest one of her sons.

A U.S. State Department spokesman says the reports are, in his words, contrary to the cooperative spirit between the two sides that led to Ms. Kadeer's release in March, shortly before an official visit to China by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Ms. Kadeer spent several years in jail for demanding greater autonomy for ethnic Uighers in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Human rights groups say Beijing has waged a continuous campaign against the Uighers in the name of counter-terrorism efforts.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.