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| Britons held in Beijing protest | Britons held in Beijing protest |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Two Britons have been held in Beijing after a protest about Tibet as the Olympic torch toured the city. | Two Britons have been held in Beijing after a protest about Tibet as the Olympic torch toured the city. |
| The group Students for a Free Tibet said four activists from the UK and the US were arrested after unfurling banners close to the Olympic stadium. | The group Students for a Free Tibet said four activists from the UK and the US were arrested after unfurling banners close to the Olympic stadium. |
| The UK protesters are Iain Thom and Lucy Fairbrother. The campaign group said Mr Thom, 24, is from Edinburgh and Ms Fairbrother, 23, is from Cambridge. | The UK protesters are Iain Thom and Lucy Fairbrother. The campaign group said Mr Thom, 24, is from Edinburgh and Ms Fairbrother, 23, is from Cambridge. |
| A Beijing Olympics spokesman said the action was unacceptable and "illegal". | A Beijing Olympics spokesman said the action was unacceptable and "illegal". |
| Students for a Free Tibet named the American protesters on their website as Phill Bartell, 34, from New Jersey, and Tirian Mink, 32, from Portland, Oregon. The group added that Lucy Fairbrother is also known as Lucy Marion. | |
| The protesters scaled a 120ft-high (36.5m) lighting pole early in the morning and unfurled banners reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" and "Tibet will be free". | |
| The action was timed before the arrival of the Olympic torch in Tiananmen Square. | The action was timed before the arrival of the Olympic torch in Tiananmen Square. |
| In London,a fellow campaigner from the group also held a protest to coincide with the one in Beijing. | In London,a fellow campaigner from the group also held a protest to coincide with the one in Beijing. |
| James Murray, 23, climbed suspension cables to reach a height of 100ft (30m) above the River Thames and unfurled a banner saying: "Beijing 2008: Make Olympic History: Free Tibet." | James Murray, 23, climbed suspension cables to reach a height of 100ft (30m) above the River Thames and unfurled a banner saying: "Beijing 2008: Make Olympic History: Free Tibet." |
| Father talks of his pride | Father talks of his pride |
| In Beijing, Mr Thom spoke to the BBC by mobile phone while still suspended from the lighting pole. | In Beijing, Mr Thom spoke to the BBC by mobile phone while still suspended from the lighting pole. |
| He said: "I'm here today because I've been a long-term Tibet activist and I feel like now is a really critical time for Tibet. | He said: "I'm here today because I've been a long-term Tibet activist and I feel like now is a really critical time for Tibet. |
| "The Beijing Games have been used by the Chinese government as a propaganda tool to whitewash their human rights record in Tibet." | "The Beijing Games have been used by the Chinese government as a propaganda tool to whitewash their human rights record in Tibet." |
| Consular access | Consular access |
| The Olympics organising committee spokesman said the protest was "an illegal gathering". | The Olympics organising committee spokesman said the protest was "an illegal gathering". |
| He added: "We want to express our strong opposition to this. China has relevant laws regarding protests and gatherings. We truly hope that foreigners coming to visit China will respect the relevant laws of China." | He added: "We want to express our strong opposition to this. China has relevant laws regarding protests and gatherings. We truly hope that foreigners coming to visit China will respect the relevant laws of China." |
| The protest is under investigation, the British Embassy said. | The protest is under investigation, the British Embassy said. |
| "We are in touch with the Chinese authorities and are requesting immediate consular access should this information be correct," a spokesman added. | "We are in touch with the Chinese authorities and are requesting immediate consular access should this information be correct," a spokesman added. |
| The Students for a Free Tibet group said further protests were likely during the games. | The Students for a Free Tibet group said further protests were likely during the games. |
| Activist explains the motive behind his protest | Activist explains the motive behind his protest |
| Dr Kerry Brown, an expert on Chinese issues with a London-based think-tank, Chatham House, said the Chinese authorities would be "very nervous, obviously, because of the opening ceremony tomorrow and they don't want to spoil that." | Dr Kerry Brown, an expert on Chinese issues with a London-based think-tank, Chatham House, said the Chinese authorities would be "very nervous, obviously, because of the opening ceremony tomorrow and they don't want to spoil that." |
| But Dr Brown added that if he was "brutally" honest, most Chinese were less concerned about the situation in Tibet than with their country's economy. | But Dr Brown added that if he was "brutally" honest, most Chinese were less concerned about the situation in Tibet than with their country's economy. |
| Friends of the Earth confirmed that Mr Thom worked for the organisation before leaving for Beijing. It called for his immediate release. | Friends of the Earth confirmed that Mr Thom worked for the organisation before leaving for Beijing. It called for his immediate release. |
| Proud parents | Proud parents |
| Mr Thom's father, Brian, told the BBC he was proud of what his son had done. He said his son had sent him a text message to say he was fine and being treated well. | Mr Thom's father, Brian, told the BBC he was proud of what his son had done. He said his son had sent him a text message to say he was fine and being treated well. |
| Ms Fairbrother recently graduated from Bristol University and lives in London. | Ms Fairbrother recently graduated from Bristol University and lives in London. |
| Lucy's mother, Linda Fairbrother, said she spoke to her daughter a week ago. | Lucy's mother, Linda Fairbrother, said she spoke to her daughter a week ago. |
| "Lucy is fighting for the freedom and democracy of Tibet and is doing what she feels is right, and what I feel is right," she said. | "Lucy is fighting for the freedom and democracy of Tibet and is doing what she feels is right, and what I feel is right," she said. |
| "Obviously I'm worried - any parent would be - but I am certain that China would not resort to torture or abuse when the eyes of the world are upon them." | "Obviously I'm worried - any parent would be - but I am certain that China would not resort to torture or abuse when the eyes of the world are upon them." |
| Lucy had warned her parents that she would probably be arrested but Mrs Fairbrother expects her daughter to be deported in the next two days. | Lucy had warned her parents that she would probably be arrested but Mrs Fairbrother expects her daughter to be deported in the next two days. |
| The Olympic torch has travelled 87,000 miles (140,000 km) through six continents since leaving Greece in March. | The Olympic torch has travelled 87,000 miles (140,000 km) through six continents since leaving Greece in March. |
| Its journey has been marked by protests about China's human rights record and its policies in Tibet. | Its journey has been marked by protests about China's human rights record and its policies in Tibet. |
| During the month in which the torch began its progress, protests flared in Tibet against Chinese rule before snowballing into the worst unrest in Tibet for 20 years. | During the month in which the torch began its progress, protests flared in Tibet against Chinese rule before snowballing into the worst unrest in Tibet for 20 years. |
| The Chinese Embassy could not be reached for comment. | The Chinese Embassy could not be reached for comment. |