BEIJING — The activist who was at the center of a diplomatic tussle between Beijing and Washington said Thursday that Chinese officials have told him the passports that he and his family just applied for should be ready within two weeks. A rights group, meanwhile, described more retaliation by authorities against his family.

From a Beijing hospital room where he remains under virtual house arrest, Chen Guangcheng said in a phone interview with The Associated Press that it remained unclear if he, his wife and their two children would be able to leave China shortly after getting their passports.

Chen made a dramatic late night escape from abusive house arrest in Shandong province last month and after several days hiding from security officials in Beijing wound up in the protection of U.S. diplomats, triggering intense U.S.-China negotiations on his fate.

Chen and his family are now expected to be able to travel abroad for him to study in the United States in an agreement between Beijing and Washington following days of talks.

Chinese officials who brought paperwork for Chen and his family to fill out on Wednesday at the hospital said the processing time for passports is up to 15 days, Chen said.

The State Department has said that U.S. visas for Chen and his family are ready for them to travel to America once Beijing approves.

Back in Chen's hometown, reports are emerging of more retaliation by local authorities against Chen's extended family. The Chinese Human Rights Defenders, a network of Chinese activists, said Chen's elder brother Chen Guangfu was tortured in late April after Chen Guangcheng's escape from house arrest was discovered.

Citing unnamed sources, the group said local authorities whipped Chen Guangfu's hands with a leather belt, struck him in the ribs and stomped on his feet in an interrogation that lasted several hours. The group said Chen has since left the village but he has not regained feeling in part of his left hand and his right foot.

Calls to local police and Communist Party offices rang unanswered Thursday.

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The rights group said Chen Guangfu's son, Chen Kegui, and his wife were also beaten by thugs. Chen Kegui, who allegedly hacked at officials with knives after they charged into his house, is now in detention, accused of attempted homicide in relation to the clash.

The AP's phone conversation with Chen was cut off before he could be asked about the latest reports of retaliation against his family.

Chen is a self-taught legal activist who gained recognition for crusading for the disabled and fighting against forced abortions in his rural community. But he angered local officials and was convicted in 2006 on what his supporters say were fabricated charges. After serving four years in prison, he then faced an abusive and illegal house arrest.

Follow Gillian Wong on Twitter at http://twitter.com/gillianwong

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