China bans 8216;flying objects8217; during the Olympics

Besides, institutions and schools have been asked to keep these flying objects under safekeeping. Special personnel should be assigned to take care of flying objects collected from individual owners to prevent 8220;unlawful elements8221; from carrying out sabotage or 8220;staging political publicity8221;, the municipal education watchdog said.

The authorities also told various units and educational institutions to be on alert and report the cases of violation during the ban, official Xinhua news agency said.

The ban came a day after the organisers issued the Olympic venue rules yesterday that prohibit carrying of banners and flags larger than two metres by one metre, flags of non-participating members as well as sit-ins and demonstrations among others.

China8217;s ruling Communist Party8217;s official mouth piece, People8217;s Daily, said the international situation and the political environment are 8220;becoming increasingly complicated by the day, and the dark clouds of terrorism on our borders a fact that cannot be ignored.8221;

Beijing has termed terrorism as the biggest threat to the Olympics. China had recently conducted national-level anti-terror drills in Beijing and co-host cities 8212; Shanghai, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Qingdao.

Chinese security personnel had smashed five terror groups in Muslim-populated restive Xinjiang province and detained 82 suspected terrorists who had targeted Beijing Olympics in the last six months, reports said last week.