This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7562264.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| British protester held in Beijing | British protester held in Beijing |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A British man has been held by police in China after unfurling a pro-Tibet banner on a building in Beijing. | A British man has been held by police in China after unfurling a pro-Tibet banner on a building in Beijing. |
| Philip Kirk, 24, of St Albans, Herts, and Australian-Canadian Nicole Rycroft, 41, scaled a hoarding outside the China Central Television building. | Philip Kirk, 24, of St Albans, Herts, and Australian-Canadian Nicole Rycroft, 41, scaled a hoarding outside the China Central Television building. |
| The pair, from the group Students for a Free Tibet, and three other supporting protesters were detained on Friday. | |
| Wang Wei of the Beijing Olympic Games organising committee said the protest was "unwelcome and unacceptable." | |
| He went on to say that most foreigners did not understand the issue of Tibet. | He went on to say that most foreigners did not understand the issue of Tibet. |
| "Tibet is an inalienable part of China and the whole world recognises it. | "Tibet is an inalienable part of China and the whole world recognises it. |
| "A small number of people are trying to split the territory and that is not going to work at all," he said. | "A small number of people are trying to split the territory and that is not going to work at all," he said. |
| Obviously you're always worried when your child is arrested, especially abroad, but we are also very proud of what he is doing for the Tibetan people Wendy CharltonPhilip Kirk's mother | Obviously you're always worried when your child is arrested, especially abroad, but we are also very proud of what he is doing for the Tibetan people Wendy CharltonPhilip Kirk's mother |
| The banner read "Free Tibet". | |
| The pair abseiled down the hoarding at the new headquarters of China's state television, which was completed just before the start of the Games. | |
| The climbers and three other protesters, all American, were arrested about half an hour after they were first spotted by security officials. | |
| Proud mother | Proud mother |
| Mr Kirk's mother, Wendy Charlton, described her son as an "ordinary, outgoing person who loves climbing and is passionate about the Tibetan cause". | Mr Kirk's mother, Wendy Charlton, described her son as an "ordinary, outgoing person who loves climbing and is passionate about the Tibetan cause". |
| "Obviously you're always worried when your child is arrested, especially abroad, but we are also very proud of what he is doing for the Tibetan people. I am very pleased he is highlighting their plight. | "Obviously you're always worried when your child is arrested, especially abroad, but we are also very proud of what he is doing for the Tibetan people. I am very pleased he is highlighting their plight. |
| "China seems so normal when you watch the Olympics on television, but you can't say what you want to say there," she said. | |
| Philip Kirk was also arrested for pro-Tibet protests in Paris last April | Philip Kirk was also arrested for pro-Tibet protests in Paris last April |
| "I know he practised beforehand to make sure they would be as safe as possible. They wanted to do (the protest) peacefully, but it is always a worry." | "I know he practised beforehand to make sure they would be as safe as possible. They wanted to do (the protest) peacefully, but it is always a worry." |
| Students for Free Tibet said it did not know where the activists were being held, but a spokesman for the British embassy in Beijing said it was in touch with the Chinese authorities and was seeking further details. | |
| Officials expect Mr Kirk to be deported some time on Friday. | Officials expect Mr Kirk to be deported some time on Friday. |
| Previous protests | Previous protests |
| Last week two other British pro-Tibet protesters, Lucy Fairbrother, 23, from Cambridge, and Iain Thom, 24, from Edinburgh, were deported after scaling a 120ft-high (36.5m) lighting pole and unfurling banners reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" and "Tibet will be free". | Last week two other British pro-Tibet protesters, Lucy Fairbrother, 23, from Cambridge, and Iain Thom, 24, from Edinburgh, were deported after scaling a 120ft-high (36.5m) lighting pole and unfurling banners reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" and "Tibet will be free". |
| Eight demonstrators from Students for a Free Tibet were also detained on Wednesday after staging a demonstration. | Eight demonstrators from Students for a Free Tibet were also detained on Wednesday after staging a demonstration. |
| A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Qin Gang, warned activists on Wednesday to obey the law in China, which does not allow unauthorised protests. | A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Qin Gang, warned activists on Wednesday to obey the law in China, which does not allow unauthorised protests. |
| He said: "No matter Chinese citizens or foreigners, in China if you want to have processions or demonstrations, you should abide by Chinese laws and regulations." | He said: "No matter Chinese citizens or foreigners, in China if you want to have processions or demonstrations, you should abide by Chinese laws and regulations." |