Protesters strike at Beijing

Protests have hit Beijing despite unprecedented security in the run-up to the Games, as China tried to avoid a repeat of protests that dogged the torch relays journey through Europe, the United States and parts of Asia. As China's government attempts to stifle further action, activists are finding new ways of putting pressure on the government to improve its human rights practice, leave Tibet and release religious and political prisoners. Some activists, attempting to raise awareness on the situation, are using Beijing hotel rooms in an bid to sidestep authorities' security measures. Tibet activists unveiled a new documentary to journalists today about Tibetans' attitudes towards the Olympics in a central Beijing hotel room. However after five minutes, the hotel's manager stopped the screening. Despite the media being promised full freedom of movement by Chinese authorities, only about six journalists were able to enter the hotel before security blocked the elevators and stairwells.

The German activist who showed the film, "Leaving Fear Behind," was told to check out of the hotel by the establishment's manager, said one of the journalists on condition of anonymity. In a much more widely-covered event, four members of Students For a Free Tibet unfurled huge banners outside the main Olympic stadium in Beijing today. Police have detained the protesters; two Americans and two Britons. Two campaigners from the same group which staged the dramatic protest carried out a similar action hours later by scaling London's Tower Bridge. James Murray and Jenny Raynor, also members of Students for a Free Tibet, climbed cables on the well-known landmark before unfurling Tibetan flags and a banner reading "Beijing 2008: Make Olympic History: Free Tibet." "The Chinese government is using the Beijing Olympics in an attempt to legitimise its brutal occupation of Tibet and cover up its human rights record," said Mr Murray. "At this critical moment, we hope to shine the Olympic spotlight on China's occupation of Tibet. The Chinese leadership must take immediate steps towards a peaceful end to its occupation of Tibet," he added. Elsewhere in the capital, an American pastor demanding the release of jailed Christians and human rights activists transformed two hotel rooms into 'interrogation rooms' complete with effigies and fake blood, a spokesman for a religious group said. He then told select reporters to enter using keys taped to 'Do not disturb' signs, according to Pastor Tony Thomas. Pastor Thomas, the spokesman for the Hacienda Christian Fellowship group, said: "It had to be out of sight of the public gaze, otherwise it would have been stopped instantly. Hotel rooms had to be the place to do it."

The cloak and dagger tactics show the extent to which groups are willing to go to try and criticise China's rulers ahead of the Beijing Olympics, which begin on Friday. * With agencies