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| Security high for Korea torch leg | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The latest leg of the Olympic torch relay is well under way in South Korea with protesters vowing to disrupt its run through the capital Seoul. | |
| The 24-km (15-mile) route from Olympic Park to City Hall is heavily guarded by 8,000 police officers. | |
| Human rights groups have said thousands are preparing to protest over China's forced repatriation of North Korean refugees and its crackdown in Tibet. | Human rights groups have said thousands are preparing to protest over China's forced repatriation of North Korean refugees and its crackdown in Tibet. |
| But flag-waving Chinese supporters have so far vastly outnumbered protesters. | |
| Police have warned anyone trying to disrupt the relay would be severely punished. | |
| Nagano clashes | |
| The torch arrived in South Korea from Japan, where four people were injured and five men arrested in scuffles. | The torch arrived in South Korea from Japan, where four people were injured and five men arrested in scuffles. |
| More than 3,000 police could not stop Japanese nationalists and pro-Tibet activists clashing with pro-Chinese groups in the mountain resort of Nagano on Saturday. | More than 3,000 police could not stop Japanese nationalists and pro-Tibet activists clashing with pro-Chinese groups in the mountain resort of Nagano on Saturday. |
| China tries to promote itself as a civilised nation but what it's doing to [North Korean] defectors is uncivilised Kim Sang-chulHuman rights lawyer | China tries to promote itself as a civilised nation but what it's doing to [North Korean] defectors is uncivilised Kim Sang-chulHuman rights lawyer |
| A coalition of human rights groups in South Korea has warned of similar scenes during the relay in central Seoul. | |
| Protesters have threatened to stop the Olympic beacon crossing one of the main river bridges in the city. | Protesters have threatened to stop the Olympic beacon crossing one of the main river bridges in the city. |
| Thousands of Chinese people study or work in South Korea and many of those have taken to the streets to welcome the torch. | |
| About 1,500 flag-waving Chinese supporters gathered at the relay's starting point, vastly outnumbering a small group of protesters were also seen in the area. | |
| The US embassy has cautioned its citizens in Seoul to avoid unnecessary travel during the relay, which started shortly after 1400 local time (0600 BST). | The US embassy has cautioned its citizens in Seoul to avoid unnecessary travel during the relay, which started shortly after 1400 local time (0600 BST). |
| Dozens of human rights activists took part in a demonstration near the Olympic Park on Saturday ahead of the torch's arrival. | Dozens of human rights activists took part in a demonstration near the Olympic Park on Saturday ahead of the torch's arrival. |
| In addition to protests against the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the relay is also seen as an opportunity to raise the issue of China's policy of repatriating North Korean defectors. | In addition to protests against the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the relay is also seen as an opportunity to raise the issue of China's policy of repatriating North Korean defectors. |
| Vowing to stop the march, human rights lawyer Kim Sang-chul told South Korean news agency Yonhap China had repatriated 75,000 North Koreans over the past 15 years. | Vowing to stop the march, human rights lawyer Kim Sang-chul told South Korean news agency Yonhap China had repatriated 75,000 North Koreans over the past 15 years. |
| As in Japan, thousands of Chinese supporters are expected to turn out | As in Japan, thousands of Chinese supporters are expected to turn out |
| "China tries to promote itself as a civilised nation but what it's doing to the defectors is uncivilised," he said. | "China tries to promote itself as a civilised nation but what it's doing to the defectors is uncivilised," he said. |
| Security for the relay includes 120 police runners and a helicopter. | Security for the relay includes 120 police runners and a helicopter. |
| "Those who attempt to stop the relay will surely be arrested on the site and given stern punishment," a police spokesman said. | "Those who attempt to stop the relay will surely be arrested on the site and given stern punishment," a police spokesman said. |
| Over the following few days, the torch will stop in North Korea and Vietnam. | Over the following few days, the torch will stop in North Korea and Vietnam. |
| The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says the Pyongyang leg of the relay is guaranteed to be trouble-free. | The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says the Pyongyang leg of the relay is guaranteed to be trouble-free. |
| North Korea tolerates no public protest and the torch will be greeted by hundreds of thousands of people in a choreographed mass display of flower-waving, he says. | North Korea tolerates no public protest and the torch will be greeted by hundreds of thousands of people in a choreographed mass display of flower-waving, he says. |
| Protests elsewhere on the torch's progress have turned the celebratory tour of 20 countries into what analysts describe as a public-relations disaster for Beijing. | Protests elsewhere on the torch's progress have turned the celebratory tour of 20 countries into what analysts describe as a public-relations disaster for Beijing. |
| Demonstrations in Athens, London, Paris and San Francisco have dominated media coverage of the relay. | Demonstrations in Athens, London, Paris and San Francisco have dominated media coverage of the relay. |
| But the flame has made relatively peaceful progress through other cities, including Bangkok in Thailand and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. | But the flame has made relatively peaceful progress through other cities, including Bangkok in Thailand and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. |
| Are you in Seoul? Did you attend the Olympic torch relay? | |
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