This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7339380.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco awaits torch demos | San Francisco awaits torch demos |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A massive security operation is under way in San Francisco, as the city prepares to host the only US leg of the international Olympic torch relay. | A massive security operation is under way in San Francisco, as the city prepares to host the only US leg of the international Olympic torch relay. |
| People protesting against China's policies are gathering - as are pro-Beijing members of the city's large Chinese population. | People protesting against China's policies are gathering - as are pro-Beijing members of the city's large Chinese population. |
| There were disruptive protests as the torch passed through London and Paris. | |
| President George W Bush urged China to "begin a dialogue" with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. | |
| He said the Dalai Lama was a "peaceful man... who is not for independence, but for the cultural identity of the Tibetans being maintained". | |
| Meanwhile, the president's spokeswoman struck a more hesitant note than she has in the past when asked whether the president would attend the opening ceremonies of the Games. | |
| Dana Perino said it was "extremely premature" to confirm what the president's schedule would be in August. | |
| No-fly zone | No-fly zone |
| In San Francisco, barricades have been set up and streets sealed off close to the planned relay route. Police leave has been cancelled. | |
| Map of planned world torch relay route | |
| "We are trying to accomplish two goals here. One is to protect the right to free speech and the other is to ensure public safety, and here in San Francisco we are good at both of those things," said Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. | "We are trying to accomplish two goals here. One is to protect the right to free speech and the other is to ensure public safety, and here in San Francisco we are good at both of those things," said Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. |
| class="" href="/sport1/hi/olympics/7335996.stm">Doubts cast on future torch relays class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7334362.stm">History of protests | |
| Police are out in force along the planned seafront route of the torch, and have declared the airspace above a no-fly zone. | Police are out in force along the planned seafront route of the torch, and have declared the airspace above a no-fly zone. |
| But they have also cautioned that the route of the torch may be subject to last-minute change. | But they have also cautioned that the route of the torch may be subject to last-minute change. |
| Hundreds of anti-Beijing protesters rallied in the city on Tuesday, after activists hung banners from the city's famed Golden Gate Bridge on Monday. | |
| Tibet is not the only issue prompting the protests - China's policies towards Sudan, Burma and members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement are also being opposed. | |
| Officials in Beijing have condemned the disruption that has accompanied the torch so far - but promised that the procession would continue. | |
| Supporters of Beijing are also out on the streets | |
| But correspondents say more trouble could force officials from the International Olympic Committee set to meet in Beijing on Thursday to consider calling off the rest of the torch's 136,788 km (85,000-mile) journey. | |
| At Tuesday's rallies, South African Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu urged world leaders not to go to the Games. Hollywood actor and long-time Tibet activist Richard Gere attacked China's plans to parade the torch through Tibet. | At Tuesday's rallies, South African Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu urged world leaders not to go to the Games. Hollywood actor and long-time Tibet activist Richard Gere attacked China's plans to parade the torch through Tibet. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Flame extinguished | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Most demonstrators are protesting over a security crackdown in Tibet after anti-Chinese unrest. | Most 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. | 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 site | 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 site |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Will you be watching the torch as it travels through San Francisco? Are you in China? What do you think of the protests and the torch relay? You can send your comments using the form below: | Will you be watching the torch as it travels through San Francisco? Are you in China? What do you think of the protests and the torch relay? You can send your comments using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |