China Calls Off Democracy Conference By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer Tue May 17, 3:15 AM ET China abruptly called off an international conference on human rights and democracy this week, apparently because it was too close to the June 4 anniversary of Beijing's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations, a participant said Tuesday. The three-day conference was to begin Thursday in Beijing, but speakers were told to "assume that it's been canceled," pending official notice, said Bruce Gilley, the author of several books on Chinese politics who was invited to speak at the conference. It would be the second time...