About 15 protesters, mostly elderly women, had gathered outside the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in western Beijing to protest against court corruption in Inner Mongolia, a pool reporter said.

Police pushed them away from journalists and rounded them up.

According to the witnesses, the protestors were taken away to a police van and some were beaten.

The incident happened just minutes ahead of a meeting at the guesthouse between the chief US negotiator at the talks, James Kelly, and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

WAR.WIRE