Chen Guangcheng to US Congress: 'I fear for my family'

Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has telephoned a US congressional hearing to plead for help in his attempts to leave China with his family.

The activist, currently in a Beijing hospital sealed off by Chinese police, said he wanted to go to the US for a "rest".

Through the translation of supporter Bob Fu, he said he worried about the safety of his family and hoped Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could help him further.