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London police stop protesters as torch arrives

Protesters use fire extinguishers as the Olympic Torch passes by in west London yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Pro-Tibet protesters clashed with police and tried to put out the Beijing Olympics flame as the torch was being taken around the British capital yesterday.

Police jumped on demonstrators who tried to disrupt the relay in what appeared to be a well-orchestrated protest.

Two protesters were arrested as they attempted to extinguish the torch and a third was pushed to the ground as he tried to seize the flame from a British TV presenter taking part in the relay.

Police said there had been 10 arrests in the first hour of the relay.

There were scuffles each time members of the relay team — renowned British athletes and TV personalities — handed over the flame to the next runner.

Shouts of “Free Tibet, Free Tibet,” echoed around the streets, while demonstrators held up banners and had their faces painted in the colors and style of the Tibetan flag.

Police on bikes and running alongside the flame escorted each member of the relay.

Former Olympic rower Steve Redgrave kicked-off the all-day relay that began at Wembley Stadium under unseasonal snowfall. There were even arrests as Redgrave handed over the flame to a 16-year-old girl.

Beijing has faced international criticism over its crackdown on anti-Chinese protests in Tibet that began on March 10 in Lhasa and which have spread to other areas of China with Tibetan populations.

Exiled Tibetan leaders say more than 150 people have been killed in the unrest. China has given a figure of 20.

But China’s top official in Tibet, rejecting demands by activists around the world, insisted yesterday that the Beijing Olympics torch relay would pass through Tibet as planned.

As many as 2,000 British police officers were out in force to protect the London torch procession.

Ahead of the relay London police said it expected six organizations — including the Free Tibet movement, Falun gong and the Burma Campaign — to send about 500 protesters to demonstrate.

In London, the demonstrators were outnumbered by thousands who lined the capital’s streets to enjoy the relay and carnival atmosphere.

The torch was to be met by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at his Downing Street residence. Brown has brushed aside criticism of his plans to attend the Olympic ceremonies, insisting it is the right thing as London will host the 2012 Games.

An array of British sports and entertainment stars, flanked by police and security officers, were carrying the torch on a 48km route taking in the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games and finishing at the O2, formerly known as the Millennium Dome.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) boss in Tibet said the region was now stable following anti-government riots last month, but warned of possible plots to sabotage the Olympic torch relay, state media reported yesterday.

China plans to take the Olympic torch to Tibet twice. One torch will be taken up Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, early next month, while the regular torch will pass through Lhasa in June.

“The social order in Lhasa and other parts of Tibet” has returned to “normal,” Xinhua news agency quoted Tibet’s CCP boss Zhang Qingli (張慶黎), as saying.

But he warned “that grave challenges remain ahead, as the Dalai clique is plotting new sabotage activities.”

Authorities had “to spare no efforts in preparing for the torch relay to ward off any possible mishap,” Zhang said, providing no other details.


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