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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China envoy to drop Olympic role | China envoy to drop Olympic role |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Chinese Ambassador is to pull out of the Olympic torch relay on Sunday. | The Chinese Ambassador is to pull out of the Olympic torch relay on Sunday. |
| Fu Ying had been due to carry the torch on a leg of the relay which will take place through London. | Fu Ying had been due to carry the torch on a leg of the relay which will take place through London. |
| Demonstrators are planning anti-China protests during the event, over the Chinese government's treatment of Tibetan protesters. | Demonstrators are planning anti-China protests during the event, over the Chinese government's treatment of Tibetan protesters. |
| The Chinese embassy says the ambassador has been asked to spend the day with the official Beijing delegation at a hotel. | The Chinese embassy says the ambassador has been asked to spend the day with the official Beijing delegation at a hotel. |
| Tim Henman, Kelly Holmes and Kevin Pietersen will be among the 80 torch bearers named on Thursday and it will be carried 31 miles through 10 London boroughs. | Tim Henman, Kelly Holmes and Kevin Pietersen will be among the 80 torch bearers named on Thursday and it will be carried 31 miles through 10 London boroughs. |
| Scuffles | Scuffles |
| The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, on 30 March and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the Beijing Games' opening ceremony on 8 August. | The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, on 30 March and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the Beijing Games' opening ceremony on 8 August. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown will welcome the torch outside No 10 Downing Street. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown will welcome the torch outside No 10 Downing Street. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The 2012 Olympics might well bring unprecedented benefits to politicians and business owners Silenced Majority Send us your comments | |
| Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham, said legal demonstrations were a democratic right: "We want the flame to come here so we can get ready for the Olympic Games this summer and build excitement about that. | Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham, said legal demonstrations were a democratic right: "We want the flame to come here so we can get ready for the Olympic Games this summer and build excitement about that. |
| "But if people wish to make a protest that is their democratic right. And I've said many times that the Olympic Games puts you in the spotlight, and that's a good thing in many ways in that your country is the focus of the world. | "But if people wish to make a protest that is their democratic right. And I've said many times that the Olympic Games puts you in the spotlight, and that's a good thing in many ways in that your country is the focus of the world. |
| "But at the same time it may be uncomfortable because it shines the spotlight on everything that happens within your country." | "But at the same time it may be uncomfortable because it shines the spotlight on everything that happens within your country." |
| There were scuffles between police and pro-Tibet protestors when the torch was handed to Chinese officials in Athens at the end of last month. | There were scuffles between police and pro-Tibet protestors when the torch was handed to Chinese officials in Athens at the end of last month. |
| Tibet's government-in-exile, based in India, says about 140 people were killed in the crackdown on recent unrest by Chinese security forces. Beijing disputes this, saying 19 people were killed by rioters. | Tibet's government-in-exile, based in India, says about 140 people were killed in the crackdown on recent unrest by Chinese security forces. Beijing disputes this, saying 19 people were killed by rioters. |
| There has been little movement internationally towards a boycott of the Games, although French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said "all options are open" following the recent unrest in Tibet. | There has been little movement internationally towards a boycott of the Games, although French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said "all options are open" following the recent unrest in Tibet. |