Beijing protesters held in Moscow

Protesters say China should be barred from holding the Games in 2008

MOSCOW, Russia -- Two groups opposed to Beijing's bid to stage the 2008 Olympic Games have staged a protest in Moscow.

The demonstrators tried to unfurl three banners across from the World Trade Centre in Moscow, where the International Olympic Committee is voting.

Russian police quickly broke up the protest. About two dozen policemen overpowered the protesters and led six to a waiting bus.

The demonstration was organised by Reporters Without Borders and Russia's Transnational Radical Party. Reporters Without Borders said 14 were seized.

The detainees included Vincent Brossel, a French representative of Reporters Without Borders and two Russians affiliated with the Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Moscow.

Other protesters included John Hocevar of New York and Ann Callaghan, a British citizen, who had both been briefly detained on Thursday for passing out leaflets opposing Beijing's bid.

After being released, the two resumed their campaign outside the IOC's opening ceremony at the Bolshoi Theatre on Thursday evening, waving at President Vladimir Putin's motorcade as it arrived.

The demonstrators say China's actions in Tibet -- including what they call the repression of protest and discrimination against ethnic Tibetans -- should disqualify Beijing from hosting the prestigious event.