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Scuffles in Japan at torch relay | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Olympic torch has met with more protests and scuffles on the latest leg of its troubled relay in the Japanese city of Nagano. | |
With security tight along the route, one demonstrator tried to seize the torch, before police intervened. | |
Although there have been two arrests so far, our correspondent reports that there was no serious disruption. | |
The streets were lined with thousands of Chinese supporters, as well as dozens of protesters. | |
More than 3,000 police officers were brought in to guard the event after demonstrations had plagued the flame in some other cities on its route. | |
In a last-minute change, the Nagano leg of the relay began in a parking lot rather than a 1,400-year-old Buddhist temple. | |
The temple was withdrawn as the starting point after objections over China's crackdown in Tibet. | The temple was withdrawn as the starting point after objections over China's crackdown in Tibet. |
The start of the relay, with the torch first carried by the manager of Japan's national baseball team, was closed to the public, as were rest stops on the route. | |
Security officers | |
Protests elsewhere on the torch's progress - and the huge security operations they have spawned - have turned the celebratory tour of 20 countries into what analysts describe as a public-relations disaster for Beijing. | |
A demonstrator who got close to the torch was quickly apprehended | |
Earlier, Japan told Chinese Olympics organisers that the large team of security officers who have accompanied the flame elsewhere would not be welcome here, says BBC Japan correspondent Chris Hogg. | |
Instead riot police in running gear surrounded the athletes carrying the torch along each stage of the relay. | |
Two columns of 40 police officers each flanked the torch, making it hard for spectators to see much, the organisers admit. | |
In advance of the torch's arrival, buses full of riot police patrolled the streets and police helicopters hovered overhead. | In advance of the torch's arrival, buses full of riot police patrolled the streets and police helicopters hovered overhead. |
Vietnam expulsion | |
Japan, which has had a troubled relationship with China, took extensive steps to ensure that any disruption was kept to a minimum. | |
Over the following few days, the torch will stop in South Korea, North Korea, and Vietnam. | Over the following few days, the torch will stop in South Korea, North Korea, and Vietnam. |
In Hanoi, Vietnam, authorities expelled a US citizen of Vietnamese origin who they say was planning protests against the torch, reported state media. | In Hanoi, Vietnam, authorities expelled a US citizen of Vietnamese origin who they say was planning protests against the torch, reported state media. |
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. |