A man is reported to have set off a bomb in Tiananmen Square, killing himself and injuring a passer-by.

The explosion happened at around 1600 local time (0800GMT) when the square - the symbolic centre of Chinese political life - was crowded with Chinese and foreign tourists.

Members of the People's Armed Police cleared the square of people and sealed it off.

In a statement given out to foreign reporters, police said Li Xiangshan, a mental patient from the central province of Hubei, set off the explosion to commit suicide.

They said Mr Li was known to the police, having come to Beijing four times previously to appeal to Chinese leaders.

The BBC's Adam Brookes in Beijing says many people in the capital are speculating that the attack may be related to the Falun Gong movement, which has been holding protests in Tiananmen Square.

Thousands of members of the banned movement have been arrested in the square for making silent protests since the group was banned in July last year.