A detained Chinese legal activist has delivered a bold message from inside a Beijing jail, urging citizens to unite in pursuing democratic freedoms in a video likely to anger the authorities.
In the video that surfaced online today, civil rights campaigner Xu Zhiyong says authorities detained him for his efforts to promote education equality and urge officials to declare their assets.
Xu's supporter and friend, Wang Gongquan, confirmed by phone that he had obtained the video and posted it on his microblogs.
Wang said the identity of the person who shot the video could not be released for fear that the person could suffer official retaliation.
Beijing police did not immediately respond to faxed questions.
Xu has in recent years advocated a movement to promote Chinese civil society.
