BEIJING — A small group of protesters has clashed with police near Tiananmen Square in China's capital, saying they were evicted from their homes to make way for reconstruction ahead of the Olympic Games.

The two dozen demonstrators scuffled with police today in the historic Qianmen district just south of Tiananmen.

The protesters said they had been evicted from their because the district was being reconstructed. The area is being rebuilt into a commercial strip with businesses such as Nike, Starbucks and Rolex.

Demonstrations in and near central Beijing's Tiananmen Square are rare and generally stopped quickly by police.

China is sensitive to any public criticism of the Beijing Olympics, which begins this week. Security agents are stationed throughout the city to watch for signs of unrest.