BEIJING - The Chinese authority prohibited reporters from participating in the Zhao Ziyang Memorial Service that took place this morning in Beijing's Babaoshan Public Cemetery. To prevent foreign reporters from mixing in with the mourners, the CCP exercised tight control. Some reporters were stopped from entering the memorial site.

Since Zhao Ziyang died on Jaunary 17, the overseas media have closely followed the news and activities related to Zhao evaluation and memorial. The media companies that have offices in Beijing have assigned more reporters to follow Zhao’s memorial.

Since the CCP authority forbade media interviews at Zhao’s memorial, it was reported that some reporters registered as Zhao's friends and relatives so as to apply to attend the memorial to the Zhao Funeral Work Team set up by the CCP.

But the authority checked carefully all applicants, and rejected applications from most reporters. Only a few were able to receive permission.

To prevent reporters from interviewing, the authority stepped up monitoring. At least two Hong Kong reporters who held permits to attend the memorial were turned away by the Babaosha monitoring staff. The staff members were reported to have been chosen for their familiarity with Hong Kong reporters.

Witnesses said among those who were stopped from entering the memorial site, several hundred gathered outside the Babaoshan Public Cemetery this morning, adding to the strained atmosphere.