The Chinese government has released and deported a Swedish activist, who was detained on charges of damaging national security.
Peter Dahlin, 35, was arrested in early January amid a crackdown on human rights lawyers and activists.
Last week, he appeared on state media apparently confessing to breaking the law through his organisation’s support of local Chinese rights lawyers.
The Swedish embassy confirmed he had left China, but gave no further details.
Its Foreign Minister welcomed Mr Dahlin’s release, but expressed concern about another Swede in Chinese detention.
Mr Dahlin is the founder of Chinese Urgent Action Working Group (China action), which describes itself as a legal aid organisation.
He disappeared earlier this month, as he prepared to board a flight to Thailand, and appeared to have been caught up in a crackdown on human rights lawyers.
His detention came as China considers a new law to control the activities of foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which had raised widespread concern among overseas groups.
Dahlin’s group had said it offered training to lawyers who have tried to use China’s tightly-controlled judiciary to redress apparent government abuses.
Mr Dahlin said that he had violated Chinese law, caused harm to the Chinese government and hurt the Chinese public.
China Action called the report “absurd” and said the confession appeared to be forced.
