BBC Wednesday, 25 April, 2001, 10:00 GMT 11:00 UK

Falun Gong activists arrested

Police in Beijing have detained at least 20 supporters of China's Falun Gong spiritual movement on the second anniversary of a big demonstration which led to the banning of the organisation.

Falun Gong supporters unfurled a yellow banner on the capital's in Tiananmen Square and shouted slogans watched by hundreds of Chinese and foreign tourists.

The protesters were quickly bundled into police vans by plainclothes officers; eyewitnesses say several were kicked and punched by police as they were dragged away.

A huge security cordon has now been placed around Tiananmen Square as uniformed and plain-clothed police keep watch for any further protest attempts.

The Chinese Government sees the Falun Gong movement - which says it has millions of adherents - as a political threat.

Followers say it is a system of traditional meditation and exercise.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001