Ai Weiwei: Associates of Chinese artist 'also free', 25 June 2011 Last updated at 08:52

Ai Weiwei was freed last Wednesday, but the fate of colleagues detained with him was unclear

Four people detained with Ai Weiwei - the artist and activist held by Chinese authorities for nearly three months - are also now free, Mr Ai's associates have told reporters.

Mr Ai was released last Wednesday but the whereabouts of his associates had been unclear.
Two of Mr Ai's friends now say his driver, accountant and a designer were also released at the end of last week.
Mr Ai himself told AFP news agency that his assistant Wen Tao was also free.
"All of the people connected to the case have been released," Liu Yanping, a volunteer worker with Mr Ai on human rights issues, told Reuters news agency by telephone.
"That's a big relief. But I do think the Ai Weiwei studio's work will remain suspended for now," she said - referring to Ai's political activism and not his artistic work.
The release of Mr Ai's driver Zhang Jinsong, accountant Hu Mingfen, and associate designer Liu Zhenggang was also confirmed by Liu Xiaoyuan, a lawyer and friend of Mr Ai.
The detention of Mr Ai on what supporters called trumped-up charges prompted a global campaign for his release.
Mr Ai has been freed, but he is barred from discussing his case publicly, barred from leaving Beijing without permission and reportedly barred from using micro-blogging service Twitter - which he previously used prolifically.
Chinese authorities say he has confessed to tax evasion offences, but lawyers point out that no formal charges have been brought.
On Sunday, prominent environmentalist and Aids activist Hu Jia is scheduled to be released from prison.
He was jailed in April 2008 for "inciting subversion".