5 Detained for Dropping 'Free Tibet' Banner

(Photo courtesy of EPA)

Beijing police detained two foreign nationals and three support people for allegedly dropping this protest banner in front of the Chinese state television's new headquarters in the capital.

According to an Associated Press article, quoting state media, Chinese authorities have received 77 applications for protests during the Olympics in the so-called designated areas.

Of course, the conditions for those protest to take place are draconian, including that they "must not harm national, social and collective interests."

The official report did not specify whether any of these permits were granted. Witnesses in Beijing have reported that no allowed protests have been observed since the Games started on Aug. 8.