Police shoved diplomats and protesters close to a Beijing courthouse Monday as one of the country's most high-profile human rights lawyers stood trial on charges of inciting ethnic hatred and "picking quarrels and provoking trouble."
Pu Zhiqiang, who has spent nearly 19 months in detention, faces up to eight years in prison if convicted, according to one of his lawyers Shang Baojun.
As many as 11 diplomats from countries including the United States, Germany and France congregated near the courthouse seeking to observe the trial. They were refused admittance by police.