"I think it's wonderful news," said Martin Lee, a prominent pro-democracy leader.

And the pro-democracy leader herself said she would do what she thought was necessary.

But journalists and pro-democracy leaders said his conflicting responses foretold trouble for vigorous news media.

He noted, however, that a number of pro-democracy leaders have been freed recently, before completion of their sentences.

The security forces are widely suspected of secretly terrorizing pro-democracy leaders.

It was the second time in a row that her party has reported harassment of the pro-democracy leader during a trip.

But the pro-democracy leader warned against any sense of complacency.

The pro-democracy leader described the past year as eventful, energising and to a certain extent encouraging.

She left the country as a teenager when her mother was named an ambassador, then returned from Britain in 1988 and became a pro-democracy leader.

Other sources indicate, however, that the pro-Democracy leader is indeed on hunger strike.