Falun Gong supporter confronts Jiang in Malta

VALLETTA, Malta (Reuters) - A supporter of the banned Chinese religious movement Falun Gong managed to confront Chinese President Jiang Zemin shortly before he left Malta on Wednesday.

A Chinese-American woman, identified as Wang Wenwi walked right up to Jiang and asked him about the suppression of Falun Gong followers in China before she was whisked away.

The Chinese leader asked her to be allowed back and answered her in an agitated voice and with much gesticulation. It was not clear exactly what he had said.

Malta was Jiang's last stop on a five-nation tour that also took him to Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus.

In Malta, he had talks with Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and opposition leader Alfred Sant and signed a cultural cooperation agreement.

On Wednesday, he toured the Mediterranean island's ancient walled city of Mdina, taking the opportunity to play some notes on an 18th-century organ at Mdina Cathedral Museum.

13:16 07-25-01

Copyright 2001 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.