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Olympic torch tours Ho Chi Minh Olympic torch tours Ho Chi Minh
(about 3 hours later)
The Olympic torch is due to tour Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on the final international stop of its troubled global relay. The Olympic torch is touring Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on the final international stop of its world relay.
The parade is expected to pass off fairly smoothly, unlike previous legs dominated by anti-China protests. There were cheers from thousands of onlookers as the parade passed by - marking the end of a global tour dogged by protests against China.
But a group of activists have promised demonstrations linked to a territorial dispute with Beijing. Many of the supporters were flag-waving Chinese citizens, who are either working or studying in Vietnam.
It comes amid a row between South Korea and China over scuffles during the torch relay in Seoul. The torch's next stop is Hong Kong, where it begins the domestic leg of the relay.
At the torch relay on Sunday, police struggled to contain Chinese supporters who threw stones at demonstrators protesting over unrest in Tibet and Beijing's repatriation of North Korean refugees. Security
This has triggered public anger in South Korea and on Monday the government expressed "strong regret" to the Chinese ambassador over the incidents. Security for the Vietnam relay had been stepped up after theats from activists to demonstrate against China's claim to the disputed Spratly Islands - a South China Sea archipelago thought to have oil and gas reserves.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said they had "hurt national pride considerably", Yonhap news agency reported. And in the capital, Hanoi, police detained several people after they unfurled an anti-China banner in a market and called for the Olympics to be boycotted, according to witnesses.
Island dispute The authorities stationed dozens of security police outside the Chinese Embassy blocking the way to the building.
The torch arrived in Vietnam from North Korea, where large crowds turned out to greet it in the tightly-controlled communist state. China and Vietnam have strong economic ties and large-scale protests linked to Tibet were not expected.
The parade in Ho Chi Minh City will depart in the early evening from the 19th Century opera hall.
Sixty runners will carry it along an undisclosed route to a military stadium, officials said.
A small group of Chinese citizens waved flags of support as the stage was made ready for the opening ceremony of the relay.
In the capital, Hanoi, dozens of security police were stationed outside the Chinese Embassy blocking the way to the building.
China and Vietnam have strong economic ties and large-scale protests linked to Tibet are not expected.
But some activists say they will rally against China's claim to the disputed Spratly Islands - a South China Sea archipelago thought to have oil and gas reserves.
After Vietnam, the torch goes to Hong Kong to begin the domestic leg of the relay.
International protests have turned the torch's celebratory tour of 20 countries into what analysts describe as a public-relations disaster for Beijing.International protests have turned the torch's 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.