Britons held in Tibet demo at Games

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The protest group Students for a Free Tibet said four Tibet activists from Britain and the United States were detained in Beijing after displaying two 140-square-foot banners outside the Olympic stadium. The first read: "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet" in English, and the second: "Tibet Will Be Free" in English and "Free Tibet" in Chinese.

The Free Tibet 2008 website said the two Britons arrested were Iain Thom, 24, from Edinburgh and Lucy Marion, 23, who grew up in Cambridge and now lives in London. The pair were arrested at 7am local time (midnight BST).

A spokesman for the British Embassy in Beijing said it was aware of reports that two British nationals had been detained and officials were in touch with the Chinese authorities.

Chinese news agency Xinhua later reported that the four protesters would be deported from the country at the earliest opportunity.

The protest happened hours before the Olympic torch was due to arrive in Tiananmen Square, and two days before the Olympics opening ceremony takes place at the stadium.

The British Embassy spokesman said: "We are aware of reports of two British nationals being detained near the national stadium in Beijing. We are in touch with the Chinese authorities and are requesting immediate consular access should this information be correct."

The Free Tibet 2008 website says Mr Thom is grassroots co-ordinator for Students for a Free Tibet UK (SFT-UK) and has just finished working for Friends of the Earth Scotland.

Ms Marion recently graduated from Bristol University. The website states she visited Tibet in 2003 and has since been dedicated to standing in solidarity with Tibetans in their struggle for freedom and human rights.

The website names the two Americans as Phill Bartell, 34, from Boulder, Colorado and Tirian Mink, 32, a project manager from Portland, Oregon.