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British protester held in Beijing British protester held in Beijing
(about 7 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 the Central Television building to make their protest. 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. The pair, from the group Students for a Free Tibet, and three other supporting protesters, were detained on Friday.
Han Shan, spokesman for the campaign group, said the banner read "Free Tibet" in English and Chinese. Wang Wei of the Beijing Olympic Games organising committee, said the protest was "unwelcome and unacceptable."
Kate Woznow, also from the group, said the protest happened at the headquarters of the state-owned China Central Television building in east Beijing. He went on to say that most foreigners did not understand the issue of Tibet.
She said Mr Kirk and Ms Rycroft were detained after climbing up part of the building to reveal the banner. "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.
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
Spokesman for Students for Free Tibet Han Shan said the banner read "Free Tibet" in English and Chinese.
The pair abseiled down the hoarding at 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 around half an hour after the climbers were first spotted by security officials.
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".
"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," Ms Charlton said.
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."
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 they were in touch with the Chinese authorities and were seeking further details.
Officials expect Mr Kirk to be deported some time on Friday.
Previous protestsPrevious 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".
The activists said the action had been worth it - but their job was not done and there would be more protests during the games.
We are in touch with the Chinese authorities and we are seeking further details British embassy spokesman
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.
Wang Wenjie, of the Beijing Public Security Bureau, said he did not have any information about the latest protest. 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 British embassy in Beijing said: "We are in touch with the Chinese authorities and we are seeking further details."
Officials expect Mr Kirk to be deported some time on Friday.
Meanwhile, 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."