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US protests ahead of torch relay San Francisco set for torch relay
(about 3 hours later)
Hundreds of pro-Tibet protesters have marched in San Francisco, as the Olympic torch arrived for the US leg of its international relay. Hundreds of pro-Tibet protesters have marched in San Francisco, as the city prepares to host the next leg of the international Olympic torch relay.
Demonstrators carrying Tibetan flags marched to the Chinese Consulate to denounce Beijing's policy on Tibet. Demonstrators carrying Tibetan flags marched to the Chinese consulate to denounce Beijing's policy on Tibet.
Officials have promised tight security for Wednesday's torch relay, following chaotic scenes in London and Paris.Officials have promised tight security for Wednesday's torch relay, following chaotic scenes in London and Paris.
Officials in Beijing have condemned the disruption to the torch relay but promised that it will go ahead. Officials in Beijing have condemned the disruption to the procession but promised that it would continue.
Extra police will line the torch's route as it travels through San Francisco. Extra police will line the torch's route as it follows a six-mile (10km) route through San Francisco, starting at 1300 (2000 GMT).
Mayor Gavin Newsom said he had been in touch with officials in the UK and France to discuss ways of handling the protesters.Mayor Gavin Newsom said he had been in touch with officials in the UK and France to discuss ways of handling the protesters.
"I'm not naive to the challenge associated with this event," he said."I'm not naive to the challenge associated with this event," he said.
Map of world torch relay route Map of world torch relay route
The flame was lit in Greece on 24 March and is being relayed through 20 countries before being carried into the opening ceremony in Beijing on 8 August. At a candle-lit vigil on Tuesday near City Hall, South African Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu urged world leaders not to go to the Games.
But protests have already caused serious disruption to legs in London and Paris. In Paris, the torch had to be extinguished three times, while in London there were 37 arrests. "For God's sake, for the sake of our children, for the sake of their children, for the sake of the beautiful people of Tibet - don't go," he said.
If I support the Olympics, of course I don't support the protests Ling Li,San Francisco resident
The demonstrators are protesting over a security crackdown in Tibet after anti-Chinese unrest.
Tibetan exile groups say Chinese security forces killed dozens of protesters. Beijing says about 19 people were killed in rioting.
Boycott call
The torch arrived in San Francisco early on Tuesday and was immediately taken to a secret location.
The flame relay will begin at 1300 (2000GMT) and follow a six-mile (10km) route though the city.
Doubts cast on future torch relaysHistory of protests
Several protests are planned and police say they reserve the right to change the route if necessary.
On Tuesday, activists gathered near City Hall for their march to the Chinese mission and a late-night vigil.
South African Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu urged world leaders not to go to the Games.
"For God's sake, for the sake of our children, for the sake of their children, for the sake of the beautiful people of Tibet - don't go," he said at the vigil.
"Tell your counterparts in Beijing you wanted to come but looked at your schedule and realised you have something else to do.""Tell your counterparts in Beijing you wanted to come but looked at your schedule and realised you have something else to do."
Other speakers called for further disruption of the relay. class="" href="/sport1/hi/olympics/7335996.stm">Doubts cast on future torch relays class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7334362.stm">History of protests
"This is not about us battling the torchbearers," Lhadom Tethong, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, told the crowd. Hollywood actor and long-time Tibet activist Richard Gere attacked China's plans to parade the torch through Tibet.
"This is about the Chinese government using the torch for political purposes. And we're going to use it right back." "The game-plan of bringing this torch to Tibet, as if it was a harmonious society, is so patently false and insulting to the Tibetans," Mr Gere told the rally.
But in Chinatown, community representatives held a news conference to call for a peaceful relay and voice pride over China's hosting of the Games. But in San Francisco's Chinatown, community representatives held a news conference to call for a peaceful relay and voice pride over China's hosting of the Games.
"If I support the Olympics, of course I don't support the protests," local resident Ling Li told the Associated Press News agency."If I support the Olympics, of course I don't support the protests," local resident Ling Li told the Associated Press News agency.
"This is the first time China has had the Olympics. We should be proud of this.""This is the first time China has had the Olympics. We should be proud of this."
International Olympic Committee (IOC) members are to discuss the issue in meetings in Beijing in the coming days, but President Jacques Rogge scotched rumours that the relay might be stopped. The flame was lit in Greece on 24 March and is being relayed through 20 countries before being carried into the opening ceremony in Beijing on 8 August.
"There is no discussion of cancelling any legs," he told the Wall Street Journal. "What we will do is study the torch relay so far." Protests have already caused serious disruption to legs in London and Paris. In Paris, the torch had to be extinguished three times, while in London there were 37 arrests.
He is due to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao later in the day. The demonstrators are protesting over a security crackdown in Tibet after anti-Chinese unrest.
Tibetan exile groups say Chinese security forces killed dozens of protesters. Beijing says about 19 people were killed in rioting.
OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to AthensAfter handover ceremony, it is taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the worldTorch arrives in Macau on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August See detailed route on Beijing 2008 official siteOLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to AthensAfter handover ceremony, it is taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the worldTorch arrives in Macau on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August See detailed route on Beijing 2008 official site
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