ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: There are reports of mass arrests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where members of the outlaw Falun Gong spiritual movement have been assembling in defiance of authority. CNN's Lisa Weaver joins us now by telephone from Beijing with the very latest on Sunday's incident. Lisa, tell us what happened.</s>LISA WEAVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Andria, the protests began at about dawn at the flag-raising ceremony to commemorate China's National Day. Hundreds of protesters in small groups gathered on the square. Once they were there, they began to unfurl banners and attempted to pass out leaflets. Their main demand in protesting on Tiananmen Square is asking the government to officially recognize the group. It was banned last year. Scuffles broke out with police, as they pushed and shoved and ultimately put scores of people on to transports on at least one large bus, which they used to drive people away. In the process of having this sort of scuffle, people were forced to leave the square. Members -- it was not easy to get here. People had managed to get through very tight security on Tiananmen Square in order to reach their -- in order to reach the square. Also, authorities had put up barriers at points of transport around the country. The Falun Gong claims that its members were prevented from coming to the capital. Some 10,000 -- the group claims 10,000 wanted to arrive in Beijing to voice their protest against the fact that they have been banned -- Andria.</s>HALL: Lisa, members of the movement, reports coming out of there that they were beaten. Is that correct?</s>WEAVER: Yes, eyewitnesses saw several people beaten as they were forced into vans and as they had banners taken away from them.</s>HALL: Lisa Weaver reporting live on the telephone from Beijing. Thank you, Lisa, for the latest on that. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Chinese Police Confront Falun Gong Members in Tiananmen Square