Beijing. April 17-20. Students demonstrating in Tian' anmen Square. Protests began after the death on 15 April of HU Yaobang, whom students regarded as protector of intellectuals.

Thousands of students from Beijing University have been marching through the capital, chanting democratic slogans and making political demands as their mourning the death of HU Yaobang, the ousted Communist Party leader, has turned into a campaign for broad social change. The demonstrations are the most significant signs of unrest here since the student protests led to a conservative backlash and the ousting of Mr HU. Current demonstrations have taken place mainly in Tian' anmen Square, center of Beijing and political center of China, beneath the giant portrait of Chairman MAO.