Ziyang in coma

Zhao Ziyang, toppled as China's Communist Party chief for opposing the army crackdown on the 1989 pro-democracy protests, is in a coma in hospital after multiple strokes, sources close to the family said yesterday.

The government put Zhao, now 85, under house arrest following his removal, fearing the residual influence of modern China's icon of reform could spark widespread protests.

"My dad suffered yet another stroke last night... and is still in critical condition after emergency treatment," a source who spoke on condition of anonymity quoted Zhao's daughter, Wang Yannan, as saying.

"He can't receive visitors now," Wang, who changed her name to keep a low profile, was quoted as saying. "We ask friends to pray with us for my father."

Hong Kong-based human rights activist Frank Lu, and a third source who has regular contact with the family, said Zhao was in a coma.

"The doctors are not optimistic about the situation, whether he can make it through the rest of today," Lu told Reuters after speaking with a source close to Zhao.

The third source said: "Rescue efforts were successful, but he is still in a coma and critical condition."

Zhao has been confined to his courtyard home in the Chinese capital for sympathising with the student-led demonstrations, centred on Tiananmen Square, which were crushed by the army with heavy loss of life on June 3-4, 1989.

The Chinese leadership fears Zhao's death could serve as a rallying point for reformists, workers disgruntled at soaring unemployment and farmers disillusioned with the widening gap between rich and poor.

Zhao is at Beijing Hospital, where two eyewitnesses said things appeared calm and normal. The tightly controlled state media made no mention of Zhao.

Zhao was in hospital for three weeks in February with pneumonia. He was admitted to hospital again about a month ago with lung problems.