WASHINGTON, July 26 (AFP) - The United States will conduct a thorough probe over an incident in which a Chinese businesswoman was allegedly severely beaten by a US border inspection guard near Niagara Falls, the State Department said Monday.
"We look forward to getting to the bottom of it as soon as possible," the department's deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said after Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke on the phone Sunday with his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, about the incident last week.
Ereli said the Department of Homeland Security was investigating the case of 37-year-old Zhao Yan, who was allegedly pepper-sprayed and beaten up on Wednesday.
The China Daily showed a picture of Zhao's face covered in bruises.
"Both of her eyes were nearly swollen shut, she had a large swollen area on the front of her forehead, she had bruises around the eyes, and she had a contusion high up on her forehead," the newspaper reported.
The paper reported that a US border inspection guard, Robert Rhodes, was charged on Friday with civil rights violations for striking Zhao after confusing her with suspected drug smugglers.
Zhao, from Tianjin city, said she told the officers who stopped her that she had legal documents, including a passport and business visa, but they beat her anyway, according to the Chinese media.
She is planning to sue for five million dollars.
"I have been to many countries in the past for business purposes, and the United States is the most barbarous," Zhao was quoted as saying by the People's Daily.
Ereli said: "We basically endeavor to conduct an investigation and find out what happened."
Li told Powell the United States must carry out "a serious and thorough investigation," China's Xinhua news agency reported.
"Those responsible for the incident should receive legal punishment," Li was cited as telling Powell.
Rhodes could reportedly face years in prison if convicted.