(6 Jan 2005) SHOTLIST

1. Protesters occupying roof of Xiushui market gate standing off with police
2. Various of protesters on roof
3. Police scuffling with protesters in front of market
4. Woman protester taken away by police
5. Protester in crane with policeman
6. Man taken away by police
7. Stall owners pointing at police shouting 'hooligans'
8. Police take protesters away
9. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Ms Sun, stall owner
"What we hope from the government? We hope they don't tear this down. This place belongs to us. We've been working here for more than 20 years. What do you think we can do now?"
10. Various of tractor tears down sign board over entrance to market

STORYLINE

About 50 vendors from Beijing's famous Silk Alley protested and scuffled with police on Thursday as officials prepared to tear down the 20-year-old market due to fire safety concerns.

Five vendors climbed onto the roof of the market, while some 20 others sat blocking the entrance before all were forcibly removed by police.

Demonstrators demanded that the market be saved and branded the police "hooligans".

Some were taken away in police cars, 33-year-old vendor and demonstrator Liu Bojun said via mobile telephone.

The pedestrian shopping street, which lies about two kilometres (1.25 miles) east of Tiananmen Square, is among Beijing's most popular tourist destinations and is known for its spirited haggling and brand name imitation goods.

Local city officials posted a sign last month announcing that the market would close on January 6 because it posed a fire hazard.

A gleaming new indoor market with twice the number of stalls is being constructed next door.

A wide range of mostly pirated wares, from Prada fleeces and Louis Vuitton wallets to North Face jackets and Victoria's Secret negligees could be found in the 1,000 metre (yard) -long thoroughfare.

Guidebooks list the market as one of the city's top attractions and many famous visitors, including former US President Bill Clinton and his family, have shopped there over the years.

Vendors have petitioned the city government and the nation's State Council, or cabinet, asking that the original outdoor market be salvaged, but they've had no reply.

Vendors say they can't afford the rent in the new indoor market and are being cheated out of a share of the New Silk Alley Market - a brand name they say they helped to create.

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