31.   U.S. urging China to release two dissidents.

32.   Zhang signed an open letter this year calling on the government to release other dissidents.

33.   Zhang also had signed an open letter calling on the government to release other dissidents.

34.   In a parallel move, three intellectuals were also questioned by police, while two other dissidents were released after being interviewed, dissident sources said.

35.   Albright had also asked China to release eight dissidents including prominent pro-democracy activists Wang Dan and Wei Jingsheng.

36.   Burns noted that China, as requested by the United States, had recently released dissidents for medical reasons.

37.   US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright urged Chinese leaders Monday to release jailed dissidents but acknowleged that progress on that front will take time.

38.   US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright urged Chinese leaders Monday to release jailed dissidents but acknowledged that progress on that front will take time.

39.   Washington has asked China to release eight dissidents including prominent pro-democracy activists Wang Dan and Wei Jingsheng, according to US officials.

40.   On Tuesday, the Chinese government said it would not bow to pressure from a number of international human rights organizations to release those dissidents detained.