Chinese authorities have detained two prominent dissidents ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Zhang Zuhua, one of the detained dissidents, tells VOA Mandarin Service that police showed up at his home Monday evening and did not release him until later Tuesday.
Zhang says questions by authorities focused largely on an open letter that he and another dissident, Liu Xiaobo, had signed calling for greater human rights in China.
Liu was also detained late Monday. His wife tells VOA he has yet to return home.
The homes of both Liu and Zhang were searched and raided. Zhang says authorities seized computers, all of his credit cards and cash.
A group of more than 300 scholars, journalists, lawyers and others are expected to release a public letter Wednesday calling for more respect for human rights in China.
December 10 marks the United Nations 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.