China: You Tube blocked

China has blocked access to the popular website YouTube.com apparently after video clippings on the massive pro-independence protests rocked the Tibetan capital of Lhasa this week, appeared on the website.

Internet users trying to access the website were presented with the blank screen in contrast to their normal experience of it being readily available.

There was no official word on the blockage.

Contents considered pornographic and sensitive are usually blocked by online Chinese filters.

China has edged past the US in terms of the number of Internet users to reach the number one slot, according to a research firm.

China had reported the number of Internet users at 210 million by the end of last year, very close to 216 million of the US.