A shocking new viral video campaign by Amnesty International is urging people to take online action to improve human rights in China.

The new film was released as Amnesty called on the Chinese authorities to release a cyber-dissident who was snatched by plainclothes police at a restaurant earlier this month.

Huang Qi a 45-year-old human rights activist from Chengdu, who runs the www.64tianwang.com website, was detained on June 10.

He is being held on suspicion of "illegally acquiring state secrets". Amnesty believes he is at risk of torture.

The charity's UK Campaigns Director Tim Hancock said: "Huang Qi is one of many human rights activists who have been locked up for protesting about human rights ahead of the Olympics.

"Amnesty is not against the Games going to China but we want people to know what is really going on in the country."

He continued: "The Chinese authorities promised when bidding for the Olympics that hosting the Games would improve human rights But things have got worse, not better, in the run-up to Beijing 2008."

"We want people here in the UK to speak up - online and in letters and faxes to the Chinese authorities - and demand human rights for China."

The animated film depicts a human rights protester being beaten and some viewers will find the images disturbing.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.