Three Christian activists were dragged off Tiananmen Square and detained in Beijing today after staging a protest over religious freedom and human rights for the second day running.

As thousands of supporters packed the Great Wall of China waiting for the torch relay to arrive Patrick Mahoney, the director of the Washington DC-based Christian Defense Coalition, and Brinda Swindell and Michael McMonagle, both from Generation Life in Idaho, attempted to stage a news conference and prayer vigil outside the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall.

But they were forced off the square by plainclothes security officials who held up hands and umbrellas to prevent the incident from being filmed.

Mr Mahoney told a small crowd of foreign media: "We have come here today to speak out against the human rights abuses of the Chinese government. We have come here today to be a voice to those who are in prison because of their religious beliefs."

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On Wednesday, the American group had attempted a similar protest in Tiananmen Square against China's one child policy and forced abortion. "End the brutality. To those who are forced to go through forced abortions and have no voice, we are your voice," they reportedly shouted out to spectators.

They were removed after unfurling a yellow banner with "Jesus Christ is king" printed on it in English and Mandarin.

Speaking to an American radio station after his first detention yesterday, Mr Mahoney said: "We knelt right there in the middle of Tiananmen Square and began to pray. More people gathered around, we were having umbrellas shoved in our side, kicked...the police of course were there.

"After a while they took the banner and then they picked us up and physically removed us from Tiananmen Square and detained us."

They were detained for around 45 minutes before being released. He said their passports had been examined and they now had security officers camped out in their hotel lobby.

But he insisted that the group was determined to use the global attention on China during the Olympics to continue to campaign for persecuted Christians.

Their protest yesterday came just hours after two British pro-Tibetan campaigners climbed up pylons overlooking the Bird's Nest stadium and let down banners reading, "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" and "Free Tibet".

As the three Christians were detained once again today, the Pro-Tibet pair were on a flight to Frankfurt after having their Chinese visas revoked.

On top of these recent protests - a great embarrassment to a government determined to host a faultless, trouble-free Olympics - more than 40 competing athletes today called on the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Tibet.

In an online petition and open letter, the athletes, joined by around 90 other international sportsmen and women, reportedly urged Mr Hu "to protect freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of opinion in your country, including Tibet."