New laws on Tiananmen rallies

The Chinese authorities have introduced new rules to prevent demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, as the 15th anniversary of its suppression of pro-democracy rallies there approaches.

The official Chinese state media said the new regulations - which come into effect on Tuesday - would maintain sound and stable social order in the area.

The Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 were violently put down by the Chinese army, with the loss of hundreds of lives.

In recent years, a number of groups and individuals have used Tiananmen Square to draw attention to their complaints against the government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service