China says it has expelled an American and a Canadian follower of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, one day after they staged a protest in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

A foreign ministry spokesman says authorities have issued a warning to the two for disturbing public order and have expelled them from the country Tuesday, in accordance with Chinese law.

Chinese police detained U.S. citizen Levi Browde and Jason Loftus of Canada on Monday after they unfurled a yellow banner and shouted slogans in support of the Falun Gong.

The two also accused Chinese authorities of staging an incident last year in which five alleged Falun Gong members set themselves on fire, supposedly to protest Beijing's crackdown on Falun Gong.

Mr. Loftus and Mr. Browde claimed the apparent group suicide attempt was aimed at discrediting Falun Gong, which Chinese officials have labeled an evil cult. Like Monday's protest, the incident last year took place on the eve of the Chinese New Year.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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