Tibet activists, police clash

Police have clashed with Tibetan and Australian human rights protesters in Canberra after a young man tried to scale the fence of the Chinese Embassy.

About 200 people from the Australian Tibetan community rallied outside the embassy yesterday to call on the federal Government to stand up to China over its human rights record.

What began as a peaceful protest of chants and songs became tense after a failed attempt by the protesters to hand a petition letter to the embassy.

Police acted quickly to restrain the protesters, including women and children, who threw placards and flags across the gates of the embassy after a young man tried to scale a security fence.

Police made no arrests and allowed the protesters to continue their organised march into the city centre.

- AAP