Wang 'too healthy' to be freed

Hopes of an early medical parole for dissident Wang Dan were dashed by a senior official yesterday.

Vice-Minister of Justice Zhang Xiufu said Wang, who is serving an 11-year sentence in a Liaoning prison, was not eligible for parole because he was in 'good health'.

Mr Zhang said prisons followed humanitarian rules and prisoners suffering from serious ailments would be considered for early parole.

But he said Wang was so healthy that he had taken part in a karaoke singing contest in prison.

It had been rumoured that the former student leader would be freed as the United States and China engaged in negotiations over the release of a number of political prisoners.

It was believed that Beijing had agreed to free Wang on condition he left the country immediately.