An activist who was sentenced to 30 months in prison for illegally trying to draw public attention to the plight of children suffering from melamine-tainted milk powder, applied for medical parole Monday, the deadline for him to file an appeal.

The Xinhua News Agency reported Monday, citing information from Daxing district People's Court in Beijing, Zhao Lianhai did not file an appeal, but the judicial authority is processing the medical parole application from Zhao.

The report was issued last night at midnight, hours after Zhao sacked his lawyers.

Li Fangping and Peng Jian, lawyers for Zhao, went to the detention center where Zhao was held to discuss appeal procedures Monday.

The lawyers previously said that Zhao had refused to meet with them last week, but that Zhao had signed an appeal document. Li told the Global Times that officials at the detention center gave them a note bearing Zhao's signature.

The note said Zhao had terminated his relationship with the lawyers, without giving a reason.

There are speculations among some Hong Kong-based academics that Zhao would get a lenient sentence by giving up the appeal.

The lawyers visited Zhao's wife, Li Xuemei, who gave them another note confirming the termination. "I was very shocked. I have not encountered a similar situation like this," Li said.

Li said Zhao's wife had a bitter smile during their meeting Monday, but did not tell them the reasons for Zhao's decision.

"I didn't ask her. I know that she is suffering from immense pressure," Li said.

The court sentenced Zhao on November 10 after he was found guilty of inciting social disorder. Zhao vowed to stage hunger strikes after the verdict, but workers at the detention center told Li that Zhao discontinued the protest on Friday.

Xinhua reported Sunday that Zhao was detained for 10 days for trespassing in April 1990 and was sentenced to two years for causing serious bodily injury in June 1995. It said Zhao's son had a kidney stone and received free treatment. Zhao was compensated but he still incited disorders.

Lew Mon-hong, a Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference member, told the Global Times that he plans to issue a letter to the State leaders in support of Zhao. Lew said Zhao was merely exercising his rights as a citizen.