Chen Guangcheng Sentenced

Blind China activist sentenced to prison
BEIJING - A blind activist who was arrested after recording complaints of forced abortions was sentenced Thursday to four years and three months in prison on what his supporters say were phony charges, a defense lawyer said.

Chen Guangcheng was convicted of damaging property and "organizing a mob to disturb traffic" after a trial in the eastern province of Shandong, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Chen's supporters say local officials fabricated the charges against him in retaliation for his activism.