Early human bird flu death uncovered in China

Now, this is scary...

New Scientist Breaking News - Early human bird flu death uncovered in China

It's bad enough that we have to worry about bird flu, but that the Chinese researchers who discovered that the H5N1 virus actually existed in 2003 (long before before the Chinese government publicly acknowledged that fact in 2005) tried to withdraw their article after it has been accepted for publication.

Now, WHY would they want to do that? Do they risk losing their jobs (or worse) because it would point out that there might have been a cover-up by the Chinese government? Hmmm....

The attempt at withdrawal also begs a question of research ethics: Do authors have a right to withdraw an article that might have a profound impact on the global community, in the sake of national interest (as might there be in this case)? What is the moral obligation of researchers in such a position?