Taipei- Some 1,000 Falun Gong practitioners rallied in the Taiwanese capital Taipei on Saturday to protest ten years of persecution in mainland China, where the spiritual group was founded. Standing in front of a huge banner bearing the words Falun Gong Is Good, the Falun Gong members - in total silence - performed meditation rituals.

The protest, which was also held by Falun Gong members in major cities around the world, marked the 10th anniversary of Falun Gong's protest against China's persecution, as Beijing cracked down on the group and declared it a cult in 1999.

"We hold this rally to call on the world's people to urge China to halt its suppression of Falun Gong and persecution of Falun Gong members," Chang Ching-hsi, head of the Taiwan branch of Falun Gong, said.

He said Falun Gong members will keep up the peaceful protest until China has ended its crackdown.

Falun Gong claims it is a spiritual meditation group seeking world harmony, but China accuses Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi of spreading superstition and plotting to overthrow the Chinese government. Li fled to the United States after the 1999 crackdown.

Falun Gong accuses China of jailing and torturing Falun Gong members, as well as harvesting organs from detained Falun Gong members.(dpa)