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Scuffles at South Korea torch leg Torch relay begins in South Korea
(30 minutes later)
Pro and anti-China demonstrators have clashed in South Korea's capital, Seoul, during the latest leg of the Olympic torch's journey to Beijing. The latest leg of the Olympic torch relay is underway in South Korea with protestors vowing to disrupt its run through the capital Seoul.
Rights protesters were targeted by Chinese students, who outnumbered their rivals along the 24-km (15-mile) relay route from Olympic Park to City Hall. The 24-km (15-mile) route from Olympic Park to City Hall will be guarded by 8,000 police officers.
The protests had been against 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.
The clashes came despite the deployment of 8,000 police to ensure calm. Police warned anyone trying to disrupt the relay would be severely punished.
Police struggled to contain thousands of flag-waving China supporters who chanted slogans and threw rocks at demonstrators denouncing the torch relay. The torch arrived in South Korea from Japan, where four people were injured and five men arrested in scuffles.
Meanwhile, police managed to restrain one North Korean defector who tried to set himself on fire to halt the procession.
Nagano clashes
Security for the Seoul relay included 120 police runners and a helicopter.
South Korean authorities had warned anyone trying to disrupt the relay would be severely punished.
The torch had arrived in South Korea from Japan, where four people were injured and five men arrested in scuffles.
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
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.
A coalition of human rights groups in South Korea had warned of similar scenes during the relay in central Seoul, and protesters had threatened to stop the Olympic beacon crossing one of the main river bridges in the city. 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
But they were vastly outnumbered by the thousands of Chinese people who study or work in South Korea who had taken to the streets to welcome the torch. A coalition of human rights groups in South Korea is warning of similar scenes during the relay in central Seoul.
The US embassy had cautioned its citizens in Seoul to avoid unnecessary travel during the relay, which started shortly after 1400 local time (0600 BST). 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 are expected to welcome the torch.
About 1,500 flag-waving Chinese supporters gathered at the relay's starting point, and a small group of protestors 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).
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.
Human rights lawyer Kim Sang-chul told Yonhap, a South Korean news agency, that 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
"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.
Next stop north Security for the relay includes 120 police runners and a helicopter.
The torch will now travel to North Korea and Vietnam before arriving on Chinese soil. "Those who attempt to stop the relay will surely be arrested on the site and given stern punishment," a police spokesman said.
About 1,500 Chinese supporters gathered at the relay's starting point Over the following few days, the torch will stop in North Korea and Vietnam.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says Monday's Pyongyang leg 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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