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| Canberra braced for torch relay | Canberra braced for torch relay |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Australian capital, Canberra, is braced for protests ahead of the Olympic torch's latest leg of its troubled progress around the world. | The Australian capital, Canberra, is braced for protests ahead of the Olympic torch's latest leg of its troubled progress around the world. |
| Security has been stepped up amid fears of a repeat of the anti-China protests that blighted relays in London, Paris and San Francisco. | |
| The relay starts within hours but some acts of protest have already started. | The relay starts within hours but some acts of protest have already started. |
| Australian PM Kevin Rudd says the authorities will come down "like atonne of bricks" on violent protesters. | |
| The torch arrived at an air force base in Canberra on Wednesday before being taken to an undisclosed location. | The torch arrived at an air force base in Canberra on Wednesday before being taken to an undisclosed location. |
| A metre-high wire fence has been erected along the route of the procession, which has been shortened because of concerns about security. Hundreds of police will be deployed. | A metre-high wire fence has been erected along the route of the procession, which has been shortened because of concerns about security. Hundreds of police will be deployed. |
| Long walk | Long walk |
| Demonstrators against Chinese rule in Tibet and Beijing's human rights record are expected along the route, as well as pro-China protestors expressing support for the Beijing Games in August. | Demonstrators against Chinese rule in Tibet and Beijing's human rights record are expected along the route, as well as pro-China protestors expressing support for the Beijing Games in August. |
| Activists in Sydney unfurled a banner over a billboard for Coca-Cola - an Olympic sponsor - urging China to open talks with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Police said they charged four people with trespassing and released them on bail. | Activists in Sydney unfurled a banner over a billboard for Coca-Cola - an Olympic sponsor - urging China to open talks with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Police said they charged four people with trespassing and released them on bail. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Protesters in Sydney unfurl a banner before being led away by police | Protesters in Sydney unfurl a banner before being led away by police |
| Pro-Tibetan campaigners gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra for a candle-lit vigil ahead of the relay. They included five Tibetans that had walked 70km (43 miles) from a small town called Bungendore in rural New South Wales to Canberra to meet the torch. | Pro-Tibetan campaigners gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra for a candle-lit vigil ahead of the relay. They included five Tibetans that had walked 70km (43 miles) from a small town called Bungendore in rural New South Wales to Canberra to meet the torch. |
| Organisers have abandoned plans to run the flame past the embassy, fearing it could become a flashpoint for protests. | Organisers have abandoned plans to run the flame past the embassy, fearing it could become a flashpoint for protests. |
| Confusion | Confusion |
| Warning against violence, Mr Rudd said: "What I can say loud and clear, if any protester irrespective of their political point of view engages in unruly, disruptive, violent, unlawful behaviour then the police will come down on them like a tonne of bricks. | Warning against violence, Mr Rudd said: "What I can say loud and clear, if any protester irrespective of their political point of view engages in unruly, disruptive, violent, unlawful behaviour then the police will come down on them like a tonne of bricks. |
| I'd just like to think that if you're going to protest on issues like this, that it shouldn't be centred around a particular event Ian ThorpeOlympian | I'd just like to think that if you're going to protest on issues like this, that it shouldn't be centred around a particular event Ian ThorpeOlympian |
| "Peaceful protest, yes - violent protest, under no circumstances." | "Peaceful protest, yes - violent protest, under no circumstances." |
| The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says there has been confusion about the role of Chinese guards who are travelling with the torch. | The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says there has been confusion about the role of Chinese guards who are travelling with the torch. |
| The Australian government has insisted they will have no security role in Canberra, while the Chinese Ambassador has said they may have to intervene if the flame is attacked, he says. | The Australian government has insisted they will have no security role in Canberra, while the Chinese Ambassador has said they may have to intervene if the flame is attacked, he says. |
| But the Australian Capitol Territory's police chief, Mike Phelan, told reporters that local police would be solely responsible for safeguarding the torch. | But the Australian Capitol Territory's police chief, Mike Phelan, told reporters that local police would be solely responsible for safeguarding the torch. |
| Government and Olympic officials were on hand to welcome the torch when it arrived, as was aboriginal elder, Agnes Shea, who said she hoped its visit "symbolises good will for all mankind". | Government and Olympic officials were on hand to welcome the torch when it arrived, as was aboriginal elder, Agnes Shea, who said she hoped its visit "symbolises good will for all mankind". |
| The torch arrived at a military air base in Canberra | The torch arrived at a military air base in Canberra |
| The former Australian Olympic swimmer, Ian Thorpe, said demonstrators should not be singling out the torch relay for protests. | The former Australian Olympic swimmer, Ian Thorpe, said demonstrators should not be singling out the torch relay for protests. |
| "It should be something that's done consistently," he said. | "It should be something that's done consistently," he said. |
| Protests in Athens, London, Paris and San Francisco - where demonstrators angry at the Chinese occupation of Tibet tried to disrupt processions - have dominated media coverage of the torch relay. | Protests in Athens, London, Paris and San Francisco - where demonstrators angry at the Chinese occupation of Tibet tried to disrupt processions - have dominated media coverage of the torch relay. |
| However, the flame has made relatively peaceful progress through other cities, including Bangkok in Thailand and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. | However, the flame has made relatively peaceful progress through other cities, including Bangkok in Thailand and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. |
| Are you in Canberra? Are you planning to attend the Olympic torch relay tomorrow? | Are you in Canberra? Are you planning to attend the Olympic torch relay tomorrow? |
| 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. |