US activists face charges for China embassy stunt

Two pro-Tibet activists who held a dramatic protest at China's embassy in San Francisco will appear in court later this month to face criminal charges, justice officials said Friday.

The Justice Department said in a statement to AFP that the activists -- who staged a mock hanging at the Chinese consulate on Wednesday -- had been charged with "thrusting themselves" against a foreign consulate with intent to "intimidate, coerce, threaten or harass."

The activists, Nyendak Wangden and Brihannala Morgan, are both members of the Students for a Free Tibet group and could face up to six months in prison and a fine of 5,000 dollars if convicted.

In Wednesday's protest, the women clambered onto the roof of the Chinese consulate. Wangden was lowered on a rope held by Morgan which later broke, sending Wangden plummeting onto a balcony 15 feet below.

She suffered minor injuries. A spokeswoman for Students for a Free Tibet later told AFP the activists believed the rope had been cut by unidentified Chinese consulate staff.

Wangden and Morgan were released on 25,000 dollars bail and face a further court hearing on August 20.