ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States finds "very disturbing" reports of China's use of increasingly harsh tactics to repress the Falun Gong spiritual movement, the State Department said Monday.

The comment by State Department spokesman Philip Reeker was in response to the crackdown by Chinese authorities Sunday against Falun Gong protests during National Day celebrations.

"To the best of our knowledge, those detained were engaging in internationally recognized rights to freedom of expression and freedom of conscience," Reeker said. He said the United States will continue to urge the Chinese government to uphold its obligations under international human rights conventions to respect those rights.