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| Version 18 | Version 19 |
|---|---|
| Beijing protesters return to UK | Beijing protesters return to UK |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| Two Britons arrested in Beijing over a pro-Tibet protest before the Olympics have arrived back in Britain. | Two Britons arrested in Beijing over a pro-Tibet protest before the Olympics have arrived back in Britain. |
| Lucy Fairbrother, 23, from Cambridge, and Iain Thom, 24, from Edinburgh, were deported by Chinese authorities and flown back to London. | |
| Ms Fairbrother said they were deported for disturbing public order after a protest at the Olympic site, but were treated well by Chinese officials. | |
| An Olympics spokesman said the action had been unacceptable and "illegal". | An Olympics spokesman said the action had been unacceptable and "illegal". |
| The protesters scaled a 120ft-high (36.5m) lighting pole early on Wednesday morning and unfurled banners reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" and "Tibet will be free". | The protesters scaled a 120ft-high (36.5m) lighting pole early on Wednesday morning and unfurled banners reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" and "Tibet will be free". |
| The action preceded the arrival of the Olympic torch in Tiananmen Square. | The action preceded the arrival of the Olympic torch in Tiananmen Square. |
| Scot protester's 'success claim'Man's father talks of his pride | Scot protester's 'success claim'Man's father talks of his pride |
| In London, a fellow campaigner held a protest at Tower Bridge to coincide with the one in Beijing. | In London, a fellow campaigner held a protest at Tower Bridge 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." |
| 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. |
| Friends of the Earth confirmed that Mr Thom had worked for the organisation before leaving for Beijing. | Friends of the Earth confirmed that Mr Thom had worked for the organisation before leaving for Beijing. |
| Mr Thom's father, Brian, spoke to him on Thursday morning. | Mr Thom's father, Brian, spoke to him on Thursday morning. |
| He later said: "He was very upbeat when we spoke to him on the phone, and I think he's surprised at just how much of a reaction his actions have caused." | He later said: "He was very upbeat when we spoke to him on the phone, and I think he's surprised at just how much of a reaction his actions have caused." |
| Ms Fairbrother recently graduated from Bristol University and lives in London. | Ms Fairbrother recently graduated from Bristol University and lives in London. |
| Lucy Fairbrother's mother Linda says she is concerned but proud | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Kerry Brown, an expert on Chinese issues with 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". | Kerry Brown, an expert on Chinese issues with 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. |
| 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. |