China arrests online activist for organizing real estate price rally

BEIJING: Chinese police have jailed a man for 14 days after he posted messages to chat rooms calling for a gathering of people angry over high real estate prices, state media and a rights group said Friday. The move appeared to be part of efforts to ratchet up already tight media and Internet controls ahead of a sensitive political congress expected in October. The Communist Party congress, held every five years, will set the agenda for the party and country for the next half-decade, and will likely include a reshuffling of some top leaders. It will also mark a renewal of party leader Hu Jintao's five-year tenure.