Olympics-Great Wall protesters freed, world focus credited

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug 8 (Reuters) - International attention was responsible for the quick release of a group of Westerners arrested for demonstrating for Tibet independence at China's Great Wall, Canadian supporters of the protesters said today.

Eight activists were put on a plane by Chinese authorities and flown to Hong Kong today, a day after they were detained, according to Students for a Free Tibet, whose executive director was among those arrested.

The mother of a Canadian woman arrested for unveiling a banner on the Great Wall that read ''One World, One Dream, Free Tibet'' said world media coverage likely prompted Chinese officials to move quickly to deport the activists.

Valerie Raoul said her daughter, Melanie, had hoped to focus world attention on China as it begins the one-year countdown to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

China has ruled Tibet since People's Liberation Army troops marched in in 1950. Its motto for the 2008 Games is ''One World, One Dream''.

''I don't think she went with the intention of getting arrested, but she knew there was a high risk of getting arrested,'' said Raoul at a Vancouver, British Columbia, rally of about 100 supporters and friends of the activists.

The activists were Canadian, British and US citizens. Six were reported arrested on the Great Wall, and two were detained later in Beijing, supporters said.

Reuters RC VP0235