Tibet supporters protest red-yellow lights on Empire State Building

Tibet supporters protest red-yellow lights on Empire State Building New York  - Tibet supporters on Thursday protested the lighting up of the landmark Empire State Building in red and yellow to mark China's 60th anniversary, calling it a "blatant approval" of Beijing's totalitarian government.

The Empire State Building changes the lighting on its top floors several times a year to coincide with different holidays or for certain occasions. Red and yellow are the colours the Chinese communist flag.

A small group of demonstrators held a protest outside the building, which was once the world's tallest. The demonstrators dispersed without incident after stating their purpose.

"It's a great public relations coup for the Chinese state," said Lhadon Tethong, head of the Students for a Free Tibet organization. "But on the other hand, it's sure to backfire because the American public and the global public will speak against it."

China celebrated on Thursday the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China.  dpa