Beijing police used force to cancel Christmas for hundreds of worshippers yesterday, detaining members of an underground congregation and placing church leaders under temporary house arrest.

The move was aimed mainly at the Shouwang church — the largest such unregistered church in the capital. One of its leaders, who has been under house arrest since trying to arrange an outdoor service at Easter, told The Times that, once again, attempts to mark an important date in the Christian calendar had been thwarted. "We tried to hold an outdoor service, but that was wrecked by police. Smaller services around the city had to be cut short. Over 30 people were taken away and others were just prevented from leaving their homes," said the church leader, who declined to be identified.

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