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Tussles at Canberra torch relay Smooth run for Australia's relay
(40 minutes later)
There have been scuffles between pro-Tibet protesters and China supporters at the start of the Olympic torch relay in Canberra, Australia. The presence of over 500 police and a steel fence sealing off parts of the city meant that Canberra's Olympic torch relay passed off smoothly.
But the BBC's Nick Bryant in Canberra says Chinese supporters were heavily outnumbered the pro-Tibet protesters and the relay has run smoothly. There were pockets of pro-Tibetan protesters along the route, and police arrested a several people.
Hundreds of police have been guarding the torch and parts of the city have been sealed off with a steel fence. But they were heavily outnumbered by thousands of China supporters who had turned out following a web campaign urging them to "protect the flame".
PM Kevin Rudd warned against protests like those in London and Paris. PM Kevin Rudd had warned of severe penalties for any violent protesters.
The torch relay began with an aboriginal welcome ceremony and aboriginal youth leader Tania Major was the first of 80 torchbearers carrying the flame on its 16 km (10-mile) journey around the Australian capital. The BBC's Nick Bryant in Canberra says thousands of Chinese supporters - many of them Chinese students studying in Australia - lined the route, turning it into a sea of red Chinese flags.
Police arrested three protesters who ran out in front of the torch - though the relay was not disrupted. In the early stages of the relay there were scuffles between the pro-Tibet protesters and China supporters, leading to the arrest of five people.
And at least five people were arrested in tussles between Chinese supporters and pro-Tibetan protesters. Police also arrested three protesters who ran out in front of the torch - though the relay was not disrupted.
But our correspondent says that the pro-China supporters have heavily outnumbered their rivals, with many thousands lining the route, turning the scene into a sea of red Chinese flags.
Many of them are Chinese students studying in Australia who responded to campaigns running on websites urging them to turn out to "protect the flame", our correspondent says.
Chinese guards removedChinese guards removed
There has also been wrangling between the jogging Australian police officers surrounding the flame and the Chinese security guards accompanying the torch. There was also wrangling between the jogging Australian police officers surrounding the flame and the Chinese security guards accompanying the torch.
Australia's government has been insistent that its officers provide protection for the flame, not the phalanx of blue-suited Chinese guards who are travelling with the torch. Australia's government had been insistent that its officers would provide protection for the flame, not the phalanx of blue-suited Chinese guards who are travelling with the torch.
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 Australian Prime Minister Kevin RuddIf 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 Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
The Australian police officers repeatedly pulled the two Chinese guards trying to run with the torch away from their positions alongside the torchbearers. The Australian police officers repeatedly pulled the three Chinese guards trying to run with the torch away from their positions alongside the torchbearers.
Organisers shortened the route amid security fears and abandoned plans to run the flame past the Chinese embassy, fearing it could become a flashpoint for protests. The torch relay began with an aboriginal welcome ceremony and aboriginal youth leader Tania Major was the first of 80 torchbearers carrying the flame on its 16 km (10-mile) journey around the Australian capital.
Organisers had shortened the route amid security fears and abandoned plans to run the flame past the Chinese embassy, fearing it could become a flashpoint for protests.
Pro-Tibetan campaigners held a candle-lit vigil outside the embassy ahead of the relay. They included five Tibetans who 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 held a candle-lit vigil outside the embassy ahead of the relay. They included five Tibetans who had walked 70km (43 miles) from a small town called Bungendore in rural New South Wales to Canberra to meet the torch.
In Sydney, Australia's most populous city, activists unfurled a banner on Wednesday 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.In Sydney, Australia's most populous city, activists unfurled a banner on Wednesday 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.
WarningWarning
About 500 police are on hand to guard the Canberra relay and crowd control barriers have been set up along the route. About 500 police were on hand to guard the Canberra relay and crowd control barriers had been set up along the route.
"We are determined that this torch will run its full route," the Australian Capital Territory's police chief Mike Phelan was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying.
Protesters in Sydney unfurl a banner before being led away by policeProtesters in Sydney unfurl a banner before being led away by police
Warning against violence, Australia's prime minister, 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 ahead of the relay, Australia's prime minister, 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.
"Peaceful protest, yes - violent protest, under no circumstances.""Peaceful protest, yes - violent protest, under no circumstances."
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, who was the last to carry the torch in the relay, 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?
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