BBC: China detains Falun Gong protesters

The protesters are all thought to be foreigners

China has detained seven members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual [group] following a protest by [group] members in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

The protest was held as delegations from all over China met for the annual National People's Congress in the Great Hall of the People alongside the Square.

Police bundled the protesters into a van and also briefly held three onlookers who were taking photos, including an Australian television producer.

All seven members of the religious group were foreigners.

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China banned the Falun Gong [group] in 1999, denouncing it as an "[slanderous term omitted]" and severely punishing those found to be members.

Kati Vereshaka, a spokeswoman for the group in Australia, confirmed that three of those arrested were Australian and also said she had asked the embassy in Beijing to intervene on their behalf.

"Hopefully they will be released soon because they have done nothing illegal," she said.

"They went there to appeal on behalf of the Chinese Falun Gong practitioners. All they did was unfurl a banner saying Falun Dafa is good in Chinese characters."

It is the fifth protest in or around Tiananmen Square since November last year.

In February this year Chinese authorities deported more than 50 [group's] foreign members, including five Britons, following a protest involving hundred of supporters.

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