Downing Street facing more pro-Tibet demos

DOWNING Street was braced for more human rights protests today as Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and Gordon Brown sought a united front on tackling the global recession.

On the second day of his visit to the UK, the Chinese leader offered support to Mr Brown by hinting that new measures to boost the economy beyond the £400 billion economic stimulus package already unveiled. Premier Wen has already given Mr Brown backing for his call for further regulation of international finance, blaming "greedy" bank bosses for the credit crisis.

The leaders were holding talks in Downing Street before holding a business summit at the Institute of Directors. Mr Brown greeted Mr Wen yesterday at Chequers as "my friend". Tory leader David Cameron held separate talks with the Chinese leader yesterday, but raised the issue of Tibet.

Pro-Tibetan protesters clashed with police during demonstrations yesterday against Mr Wen's visit.

Five men were arrested outside the Chinese Embassy as they tried to scale security barriers. The scenes overshadowed the West End's New Year celebrations, which saw more than 250,000 revellers flock to Chinatown, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square to see in the Year of the Ox. About 150 demonstrators chanted Free Tibet slogans outside the Embassy in Portland Place, surrounding Mr Wen's motorcade and waving posters proclaiming: "Wen Jiabao: Tibetan blood on your hands".

Protesters braved sub-zero temperatures to move to the Natural History Museum in Kensington, where Mr Wen later spoke at a dinner.