China prevents foreign media from covering Everest torch ascent

BEIJING (AFP) — Beijing abruptly shut the door Thursday on foreign media seeking to cover the Olympic torch's Mount Everest ascent, after journalists raised concerns over health and reporting curbs in restive Tibet.

Beijing Olympic organisers, who had set a sudden payment deadline for air tickets to the Tibetan capital Lhasa, on Thursday brusquely refused to accept the payments from major news agencies including Agence France-Presse.

The move came after reporters this week raised objections to sudden changes by Beijing to a long-planned media trip to Mount Everest base camp.

The changes, made in the wake of violent unrest in the Himalayan region, included a much-shortened trip to the Everest base camp and reduced reporting opportunities.

The invited journalists immediately raised concerns over the health impacts of moving quickly to base camp, which sits at 5,150 metres (16,900 feet) above sea level, without adequate time to acclimatise to the high altitude.