Human rights protesters are gearing up for Chinese president Hu Jintao’s state visit to the UK.
Mr Hu and his wife Madame Liu Yongqing will meet Prime Minister Tony Blair and stay at Buckingham Palace at the invitation of the Queen.
Free Tibet Campaign, which calls for an end to Chinese occupation of Tibet, plans to stage demonstrations throughout his stay in London from Tuesday November 8 to Thursday November 10.
Protesters waving Tibetan flags and banners are expected to gather along the Mall on Tuesday for the ceremonial welcome by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on Horse Guards Parade and again outside Buckingham Palace during the state banquet in the evening.
They will also make their presence known at Downing Street and at a Guildhall banquet on Wednesday.
Alison Reynolds, director of Free Tibet Campaign, said: “We expect to be able to make a strong statement and want to make a colourful display.
“The last time a Chinese President visited the UK, Britain rode roughshod over our democratic freedoms, outraging the public and giving them a taste of what life can be like in Lhasa.
“This time, we hope our government will stand up for the freedoms of those in Tibet. We want robust representations to be made by all our political leaders who will meet China’s President, calling for Hu Jintao to meet the Dalai Lama and resolve the occupation of Tibet.”
Mr Hu, who was born in 1942 and is the first leader whose party career began after the Communist takeover in 1949, was elected by the National People’s Congress in March 2003.
He was previously party chief in Tibet where he responded to separatist protests by declaring martial law.
