Britain refuses to bar Falun Gong leader

LONDON, Aug 17 (AFP) - Britain has turned down a request from China to ban the leader of the outlawed Falun Gong from entering the country, the Foreign Office said Tuesday.

At a news conference on Tuesday, China's ambassador to London disclosed that Beijing had asked for Li Hongzhi to be barred after a newspaper claimed he was planning to attend the group's first British conference.

The Foreign Office confirmed that a meeting took place with the Chinese embassy here on August 4, during which the Chinese "made clear to us" their position on the reported visit.

But a spokesman added: "We have taken the view that as Falun Gong is not an illegal organisation in the UK and also in view of Interpol declining to treat Li as an international criminal, there is no case for action on our part."

The Foreign Office said: "The Chinese authorities are aware of our and the EU countries' disappointment at the banning of this organisation and the restrictions which are being placed on the practice of individual spiritual belief."