March 8, 2002

The Australian Falun Gong practitioners arrested in Beijing are being sent back to Australia, a spokesman for the group said.

Chris Cominos said he received a telephone message from Michael Molnar just before noon (AEDT) saying the group was being boarded on to a plane.

Mr Cominos said Mr Molnar told him he had been assaulted around the head, as had fellow practitioner David Bryceson.

It is not yet clear how many members of the group, which is outlawed in China, are among those being sent home.

It is believed up to seven Australians, from Sydney and Melbourne, were arrested in Tiananmen Square moments after unfurling a banner in support of the movement.

Those arrested include five people from Melbourne and one from Sydney.

Among them is 1964 Tokyo Olympic swimmer Jan Becker. With her are Mr Molnar and his wife, Candice, both 29, Greg March, 39, and 38-year-old Mr Bryceson, all from Melbourne and David Rubacek from Sydney.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/story_27240.asp