China expected to free New York Times reporter soon

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese journalist jailed while working for the New York Times expects to be freed at the weekend, his family and a lawyer said, ending a controversial prison term that highlighted the country's tough media controls.

Zhao Yan, who reported on citizens' rights and official abuses, was given three years' jail for fraud in August 2006 -- a charge he denied.

He was detained in 2004 on accusations that included leaking state secrets after the Times reported that former president Jiang Zemin was likely to give up his post as chairman of the Central Military Commission, which he did shortly afterwards.

Zhao was accused of telling the newspaper about claims of rivalry between Jiang and his successor Hu Jintao. The Times has said that the charge was groundless.

Zhao's sister, Zhao Kun, told Reuters on Friday she had spoken to a prison official and expected her brother's release on Saturday. Other sources have calculated he may come out of the Beijing jail gates on Sunday.

"He's in good spirits, and he's been getting better all the time," she said. "But the first thing he has to do after he gets out is have a physical check-up. We need to be sure he's okay."

Guan Anping, a lawyer who defended Zhao Yan in his trial last year, said he did not believe there could be unusual restrictions on Zhao's travel within China after his release -- always a possibility in this one-party state.

Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based group that campaigns against media restrictions, said Zhao's activities should not be curtailed.

"Zhao should have all his rights restored, including the right to work as a journalist," the group said in an emailed statement.