Falun Gong says two members die in Chinese custody

Two members of banned Chinese spiritual sect Falun Gong were tortured and died in police custody in Shandong province in July, the group said.

Falun Gong said that more than 8000 of its followers had been detained in the past several months as China tried to prevent any embarrassing disruption to the Olympic Games, which finish on Sunday in Beijing.

Zhong Zhenfu, 58, died in July of injuries sustained in police custody after being held along with others from Pingdu, Shandong, since May, the group said in a statement.

Liu Xiumei, a woman from Zhucheng, Shandong, was detained in July and died 17 days later, it said, without giving further details.

Officials from Shandong province were not available for comment on Saturday night.

Beijing views the sect as a dangerous cult and has severely cracked down on its followers since 1999.

Dissidents and activists were detained or had their movements restricted before the Games, which China hopes will showcase its economic achievements of the last three decades.

- Reuters