Chen Makes Dramatic Phone Appeal to US Lawmakers

Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangchen made a dramatic telephone appeal to come to the United States in a call broadcast live to a U.S. congressional hearing on Thursday.

"I want to come to the U.S. to rest. I have not had a rest in 10 years," Chen said, his comments made on a mobile telephone that was held up to a microphone at the hearing. "I'm concerned most right now with the safety of my mother and brothers. I really want to know what's going on with them."