Falun Gong protest smashed

The authorities are determined to crash the movement

By the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Beijing

Dozens of members of China's banned spiritual sect, Falun Gong, have attempted a daring protest in Tiananmen Square in the centre of Beijing.

Eyewitnesses say at least 100 members of the group were dragged away by police as they attempted to unfurl banners and shout slogans.

This latest protest by Falun Gong comes despite a massive police operation to try and prevent members of the banned group from entering Beijing.

Eyewitnesses say the protest appeared to be well organised. As if on cue, small groups of followers, dotted across the vast square, unfurled banners and began chanting slogans.

In a frenzied response, teams of police pounced on the protestors often knocking them to the ground before dragging them away.

The protest came shortly before visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin was due to tour the square.

Anniversary alert

It also comes just days before the first anniversary of the government order banning Falun Gong as an evil cult.

In the run-up to that anniversary, authorities have gone to great lengths to prevent any new protests.

Across the country police have been ordered to watch airports and stations and lists of known practitioners have been distributed to local police stations.

Despite such efforts large numbers of Falun Gong followers are still succeeding in making it to the capital.

Authorities will now be bracing themselves for possible further protests in the coming days.