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Monday, February 10, 2003

BEIJING -- A Chinese court has convicted a U-S-based dissident on spying and terrorism charges.

Wang Bingzhang (whahng bing jahng) was convicted by a court in southern China and sentenced him to life in prison.

The 55-year-old was arrested after police found him tied up in a temple last July.

However, pro-democracy activists claim he was abducted in Vietnam by Chinese agents.

The U-S Embassy in Beijing and the Chinese Foreign Ministry have not yet commented.

His daughter, who lives in California, says the family doesn't know what its next step will be.

Wang is a Chinese citizen who has permanent residency status in the U-S.

(APB)

JLM

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