Tibetan Olympic protesters arrested in Moscow
Moscow riot police today swiftly broke up a demonstration by about 10 Tibetans objecting to China’s bid to host of the 2008 Olympics.
The demonstrators, members of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe, unfurled a banner opposing Beijing’s candidacy on the Moscow River embankment across from the International Trade Centre, where the International Olympic Committee is meeting this week.
The banner had a picture of five bullet holes in place of the Olympic logo of five linked circles.
As soon as the banner was displayed, riot police broke up the protest and tried to seize the banner.
‘‘You are on Russian soil, you must obey Russian law,’’ a riot police officer told the demonstrators.
As the demonstrators continued to resist, police arrested several of them. At least one journalist, an Associated Press photographer, was also arrested.
Beijing is widely expected to win when the IOC on Friday chooses from among five cities bidding for the games.
The other candidates are Paris, Toronto, Istanbul and Osaka.
