Chinese officials tried to defuse discontent following days of student protests in ethnically Tibetan areas, saying a plan to teach classes only in Mandarin Chinese was not aimed at wiping out Tibet's native tongue, state media reported today.

Large numbers of Tibetan students staged marches in western China to protest the forced use of Mandarin Chinese in area schools, according to reports.

PRO-TIBETAN protesters scuffled with police yesterday as Chinese premier Wen Jiabao arrived at the Chinese Embassy in London.

Pro-Tibetan protesters scuffled with police today as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived at the Chinese Embassy in London.

China today deported a British woman and a German man who took part in a protest during the Olympic Games.

Chinese authorities have received 77 applications from people who want to hold protests during the Beijing Olympics, but all were withdrawn, suspended or rejected, the state media said today.

An activist group says police have detained two foreigners who unfurled a Free Tibet banner on an Olympic billboard in the Chinese capital in the latest of a string of protests.

An activist group says up to eight pro-Tibet protesters have been detained by Chinese police near an Olympics venue.

Two British Free Tibet campaigners have left China after they were arrested for unfurling a Tibetan flag and banner outside the Olympic stadium, their campaign group said today.

Thailand successfully hosted its leg of the Olympic torch relay today, as minor anti-Chinese protests remained peaceful and thousands of people followed the flame through the streets of the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Violence spilled over from Tibet into neighbouring provinces today as Tibetans defied a Chinese government crackdown and the Dalai Lama warned that the area faced “cultural genocide” and appealed to the world for help.

China has threatened to blacklist foreign artists who speak out in favour of Tibetan freedom, following pop star Bjork's recent onstage chant for the mandated country.