AP:China tightens security ahead of anniversary

tina771002

Associated Press
Sep 21 2009

BEIJING - Dozens of fighter jets and other warplanes soared over Beijing on Monday as China stepped up preparations for the 60th anniversary of communist rule, tightening security with restrictions on knife sales and plans to ground flights on Oct. 1.

China has tightened security in recent weeks ahead of the holiday. In the latest move, sales of knives have been banned at some stores including large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour, after two separate knife attacks near Tiananmen Square last week, according to store officials and state media.

A spokesman surnamed Wang for Wal-Mart in Beijing said police inspected the stores on Sunday and asked them to remove all knives from their shelves until further notice.

The fly-over comes after camouflaged tanks, trucks bearing intercontinental ballistic missiles and parade floats rumbled down the city's main street on Friday in a full dress rehearsal. All offices, shops and restaurants were closed along the routes, with hundreds of tactical police units with automatic rifles and paramilitary police lining the thoroughfares.

Authorities plan to ground flights into and out of Beijing for three hours during the parade on Oct. 1, according to a ticket agent, who refused to give her name, at the Beijing Capital International Airport. State media also reported the flight restrictions, which are similar to ones in place for last year's Beijing Olympics.

Few details have been given on the schedule for the celebrations, but a keynote address from President Hu Jintao is expected, followed by an elaborate military parade and performances involving 200,000 people, 60 floats and fireworks.






原文简译：

中国国庆前加强安全防卫

美联社

（2009年9月21日）

周一，数十架战斗飞机和其他军用机盘旋在北京上空，中国进一步加强建国60周年的准备工作，通过严禁刀具销售，十一地面禁飞等加强安保。

国庆前的最近几周中国已经加强安保。最近的措施是在一些商店禁止买卖刀具，包括最大的零售商沃尔玛、家乐福。根据商店负责任人和官方媒体说，因为上周天安门附近有2起持刀袭击事件。

北京沃尔玛一位姓王的发言人说，警方周日到商店检查，并要求他们撤掉所有的刀具，等待下一步的通知。

上周五举行了全装彩排，伪装坦克、运输洲际导弹的卡车、游行彩车驶过北京的主要街道。游行沿线所有的办公机构、商店、饭店被要求关闭，成百的拿着自动来复枪的武警和公安守卫在沿线。

根据一位北京国际机场不愿透露姓名的机票代理说，十一当天游行时，当局将限制进出港的航班3小时。官方媒体也报道了禁飞，就如同去年奥运时。

一些庆祝活动日程的细节已批露，但精彩的阅兵、包括20万人和60辆花车以及燃放烟花的表演后，胡锦涛主席的演讲是值得期待的。