September 22, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 14, 1423

BEIJING, Sept 21: More than 100 bats attacked a Chinese man who inadvertently attracted them with signals from his mobile telephone while he talked for about 15 minutes near their caves, local media said on Saturday.

Liu Dingyuan was using his phone outdoors in Anyuan county, in the eastern Jiangxi province, when he noticed a “black cloud” of bats flying towards him, the Beijing Youth Daily said.

Experts said the attack last Wednesday was probably caused by Liu’s mobile phone signal interfering with the bats’ sonar sensory system and by the length of continuous use of the phone.

Liu used the phone at the foot of a hill, close to several caves inhabited by bats.

Liu Dingyuan sustained minor injuries to his face and head from the attack, the newspaper said.

Airlines routinely ban use of mobile phones during flights because the signals can affect the operation of radar equipment.—dpa