SARS: 19,000 QUARANTINED
More than 19,000 people are now under quarantine in Beijing as the Chinese authorities continue to try to contain the deadly Sars virus.
Taiwan authorities have reported five more deaths from Sars and 23 new cases, taking the toll to 18 fatalities.
The World Health Organisation has upgraded the Taiwanese capital Taipei to the category of "high" local transmission of Sars.
Hong Kong announced two deaths and seven new cases bringing the territory's toll to 212 dead.
In China, five people succumbed to the disease and another 85 were confirmed ill with the pneumonia-like condition, taking the national death toll to 235 and infections to 4,884.
In an indication that the situation in the capital Beijing remained grave, authorities reported 581 more people had been placed under quarantine, bringing the total to 19,189.
Beijing has reported 116 SARS fatalities out of a global death toll of 526 - and 2,267 confirmed Sars patients, according to city authorities.
Sars has now killed more than 500 people.
Meanwhile, more than 300 people rioted against the construction of a Sars observation centre in north China's Tianjin municipality, state media said.
The unrest, the latest in a series of Sars-related protests, took place Tuesday and Wednesday in the municipality's Hongqiao district, the Xinhua news agency said on its
website.
Last Updated: 05:50 UK, Sunday May 11, 2003