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| China says relay 'to go smoothly' | China says relay 'to go smoothly' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Beijing has moved to reassure Olympic officials the troubled torch relay will now go smoothly, after being marred in three countries by anti-China protests. | Beijing has moved to reassure Olympic officials the troubled torch relay will now go smoothly, after being marred in three countries by anti-China protests. |
| The International Olympic Committee, which met Chinese officials in Beijing, said it hoped the relay could go ahead with "many more cheers and smiles". | The International Olympic Committee, which met Chinese officials in Beijing, said it hoped the relay could go ahead with "many more cheers and smiles". |
| The flame is now in Argentina, where protesters promise "surprise actions". | The flame is now in Argentina, where protesters promise "surprise actions". |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told China he may not be able to attend the opening ceremony in August. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told China he may not be able to attend the opening ceremony in August. |
| Map of planned world torch relay route | Map of planned world torch relay route |
| At a news conference, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said: "The [Beijing] organising committee today did underline to us that they have taken steps to make sure that any future risk, if there is any, is mitigated. | At a news conference, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said: "The [Beijing] organising committee today did underline to us that they have taken steps to make sure that any future risk, if there is any, is mitigated. |
| Japanese security | Japanese security |
| "We're very confident and comfortable with that, and we do hope the torch relay can now progress with many more cheers and smiles and the kind of atmosphere that it deserves." | "We're very confident and comfortable with that, and we do hope the torch relay can now progress with many more cheers and smiles and the kind of atmosphere that it deserves." |
| On Thursday, IOC president Jacques Rogge urged China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights. | On Thursday, IOC president Jacques Rogge urged China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights. |
| But Beijing told the IOC to keep politics out of the Games. | But Beijing told the IOC to keep politics out of the Games. |
| In Buenos Aires, several thousand police are braced to line the torch's planned 13km (eight mile) route through the Argentine capital. | In Buenos Aires, several thousand police are braced to line the torch's planned 13km (eight mile) route through the Argentine capital. |
| Chinese reaction to protests'Houdini torch' relay disappointsIn pictures: San Francisco relayMedia coverage: China vs West | Chinese reaction to protests'Houdini torch' relay disappointsIn pictures: San Francisco relayMedia coverage: China vs West |
| Next stop is Tanzania, where Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai has withdrawn from the relay citing concerns over human rights in China. | Next stop is Tanzania, where Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai has withdrawn from the relay citing concerns over human rights in China. |
| Tokyo said it does not want Chinese security running next to the flame for the Japanese leg of the relay later this month in the city of Nagano. | Tokyo said it does not want Chinese security running next to the flame for the Japanese leg of the relay later this month in the city of Nagano. |
| The Olympic beacon, which is visiting 20 countries before it arrives in Beijing for the opening ceremony, has been protected by Chinese guards in blue track-suits. | The Olympic beacon, which is visiting 20 countries before it arrives in Beijing for the opening ceremony, has been protected by Chinese guards in blue track-suits. |
| In Paris, it had to be extinguished three times amid safety concerns, while in London there were 37 arrests. | In Paris, it had to be extinguished three times amid safety concerns, while in London there were 37 arrests. |
| The US stage of the relay in San Francisco on Wednesday passed off amid confusion and tight security. | The US stage of the relay in San Francisco on Wednesday passed off amid confusion and tight security. |
| The UN said on Thursday its secretary general had told China months ago he may not be able to attend the opening ceremony because of scheduling issues. | The UN said on Thursday its secretary general had told China months ago he may not be able to attend the opening ceremony because of scheduling issues. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have also said they will not be there, while French President Nicolas Sarkozy is mulling whether to go. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have also said they will not be there, while French President Nicolas Sarkozy is mulling whether to go. |
| US President George W Bush is under pressure from White House hopefuls John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama not to attend. | US President George W Bush is under pressure from White House hopefuls John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama not to attend. |
| Security has also been stepped up in Beijing ahead of the Games | Security has also been stepped up in Beijing ahead of the Games |
| The relay disruption follows violent anti-Chinese protests in and around Tibet last month which the authorities suppressed. Activists are also angry at China's links with Sudan, which is accused of genocide in Darfur. | The relay disruption follows violent anti-Chinese protests in and around Tibet last month which the authorities suppressed. Activists are also angry at China's links with Sudan, which is accused of genocide in Darfur. |
| On Thursday it emerged China had refused permission for the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to visit Tibet. | On Thursday it emerged China had refused permission for the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to visit Tibet. |
| And China said it had foiled terror plots by Muslim separatists in north-western Xinjiang province to target the Games. | And China said it had foiled terror plots by Muslim separatists in north-western Xinjiang province to target the Games. |
| The Dalai Lama - who many Tibetans regard as their spiritual leader - said China deserved the Games but activists were entitled to non-violent protests. | The Dalai Lama - who many Tibetans regard as their spiritual leader - said China deserved the Games but activists were entitled to non-violent protests. |
| Beijing says Tibet is an integral part of China and what happens there is an internal matter. | Beijing says Tibet is an integral part of China and what happens there is an internal matter. |
| The IOC will consider later this year whether to restrict future Olympic torch processions to host country territory. | |
| OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to AthensAfter handover ceremony, 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 Buenos Aires? 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 Buenos Aires? 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. |