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The Chinese government has confirmed it has detained Ai Weiwei, the controversial artist and outspoken critic of the regime.
He was last seen in police custody in Beijing on Sunday after being prevented from boarding a flight to Hong Kong.
The Chinese government says his case involves "economic crimes" and not human rights.
Several of his friends and associates were detained on the same day, though with one exception they have now been released.
Police also raided Ai's studio, seizing several computers and questioning his wife, Lu Qing, who has not been able to see or speak to her husband since he was detained.
The Chinese authorities gave no details of what kind of "economic crime" Mr Ai is alleged to have committed.
However, given the artist's well-known political views many suspect his arrest is part of a broader crackdown on dissent.
In the last two months dozens of people - including several prominent human rights lawyers - have either been arrested on subversion charges or simply disappeared into police custody.
Some believe the crackdown was sparked by the government's fears that populist movements in the Middle East could incite similar protests in China.
Ai Weiwei is one of China's best known contemporary artists.
His installation Sunflower Seeds - created from 100 million tiny porcelain "seeds" - is currently on display at the Tate Modern.
However Mr Ai's political views - often communicated via his popular blog - have frequently landed him in hot water with the Chinese regime.
In 2008, after helping create Beijing's Birds Nest Stadium, the main venue for the Olympics, he boycotted the opening ceremony and likened China to a police state.
Last year, he was temporarily placed under house arrest and his Shanghai studio was bulldozed following a clash with the authorities.
Ai Weiwei has long argued that the Chinese government's determination to silence its critics smacked of paranoia.
"They have to have an enemy" he said in an interview shortly before his arrest.
"They have to create you as their enemy in order for them to continue their existence".
SKYNEWS
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