Leading Chinese websites Sohu. com and Sina.com are embroiled in what may become a legal battle over two Sina articles critical of Sohu's business.
A spokesman with Sohu said at a press conference in Beijing Saturday that the articles, published on Sina on September 27 and 28 respectively, are purely fabricated.
The articles cover an investigation carried out by American legal affairs agencies into Sohu's alleged illegal business operation and the company's plan to undersell 8.8 million stock shares.
"Sina must make a public apology to Sohu before October 15," the spokesman said, otherwise the matter will go to court.
(China Daily 09/30/2001)