Li Peng hails 'great victory' after firm action taken in struggle against

Parliamentary chief Li Peng praised the legislative body for playing a key role in smashing the Falun Gong spiritual movement.

Mr Li told the annual session of the National People's Congress that the mainland had achieved a great victory over the banned movement, which mixes Buddhism, Taoism and breathing exercises, and has been labelled a cult.

'We drafted resolutions to ban cults, prevent their activities and punish those involved. This has had great significance in maintaining social order,' he said.

'China has achieved a great victory in taking decisive action in the struggle against Falun Gong,' he told a session of the Congress held in the Great Hall of the People.

The hardline former premier, who is also remembered for other legal milestones such as the decision to declare martial law in Beijing in 1989, ranks second in the Communist Party hierarchy behind party chief, President Jiang Zemin.

China says the group is an 'evil cult', and that 1,400 people have died as a result of the group's reliance on self-healing rather than seeking medical help.

China clamped down on the Falun Gong after 10,000 of the group's members staged a silent protest outside Zhongnanhai, the party's headquarters in Beijing, last year.