August 17, 2006

China has been accused of strong-arming Australian MPs into ignoring "ghastly" allegations that Falun Gong prisoners are slaughtered for their organs.

China's consul-general in Melbourne, Liang Shugen, has written to almost all Victorian MPs scorning a meeting called by Liberal backbencher Victor Perton on the claims. Mr Perton accused the diplomat of "outrageous interference" in pressuring MPs to not attend the meeting, which will hear from a former Canadian MP who produced a report on the allegations.

The report, by David Kilgour and Canadian immigration lawyer David Matas, accuses China of killing Falun Gong prisoners and selling hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas to foreigners.