Citing an anonymous Beijing source, the weekly said party leaders wanted to wrap up the anti-Falun Gong campaign before the start of celebrations on October 1.

``Government circulars to all government and army units said we have entered the stage of `in-death' criticism and exposure of `ill-deeds' by Falun Gong but we will move on to the stage of punishment and prosecution by the end of the month,'' the Post quoted a Beijing official as saying.

``Cadres, party members and army officials are asked to admit their wrongs and quit Falun Gong or they will face internal discipline or prosecution by late August or early September,'' he said.

Some provinces had threatened to remove workers from their jobs or deny retired workers their pensions if they fail to quit the sect by the month- end, thePost reported.

-- Agence France Presse