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Olympic flame lit on Everest peak Olympic flame lit at Everest peak
(about 1 hour later)
Chinese climbers bearing the Olympic flame have reached the summit of Everest, Chinese state media report. Chinese climbers bearing the Olympic flame have reached the summit of Everest, the world's highest mountain.
Chinese television showed the climbers lighting the torch shortly after 0900 local time (0100 GMT) before taking the final steps up to the summit. Chinese television showed the climbers, carrying special high-altitude torches, reaching the summit at 0920 local time (0100GMT).
Huddled in the snow they unfurled flags and cheered for the cameras.
Correspondents say China is hoping the dramatic feat will counter some of the damaging publicity from the protests during the torch's international relay.Correspondents say China is hoping the dramatic feat will counter some of the damaging publicity from the protests during the torch's international relay.
A previous attempt failed because of strong winds and snow storms.
The climbers, dressed in red padded anoraks bearing the Olympic logo, passed the flame between several torches as they approached the summit.
Huddled at the top they then unfurled Chinese and Olympic flags and cheered for the cameras.
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The Olympic torch reaches the summit of Mount EverestThe Olympic torch reaches the summit of Mount Everest
The main Olympic torch, which is running separately, is continuing its relay through China. Perfect conditions
The torch was carried through the southern city of Guangzhou on Wednesday past cheering crowds with no reports of disruptions. The team - made up of both Tibetans and Han Chinese - set off several hours before dawn from their camp at 8,300m.
"The command centre has given its order for the final assault tomorrow," Beijing Olympics official Shao Shiwei told reporters at the Everest base camp on the Chinese side of the mountain late on Wednesday. Low winds and a clear sky provided perfect climbing conditions for the six-hour ascent of the 8,848m (29,030 feet) high summit.
At the weekend heavy snowfall had prevented a previous attempt, and badly damaged several of the high-altitude camps.
CHINA RELAY CITIES IN FOCUS Detail from map of China Use the map to see the full Olympic torch relay route or read about some of the key cities: Full route map, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Jinggangshan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Huangshan, Three Gorges, Kaili, Lhasa, Urumqi, Xian, Yanji, Weihai, Qufu, Anyang, Beijing. CHINA RELAY CITIES IN FOCUS Detail from map of China Use the map to see the full Olympic torch relay route or read about some of the key cities: Full route map, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Jinggangshan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Huangshan, Three Gorges, Kaili, Lhasa, Urumqi, Xian, Yanji, Weihai, Qufu, Anyang, Beijing.
Heavy snowfall on the weekend had dealt a blow to the team, badly damaging several of the high-altitude camps set up to provide a jumping off point for the final ascent. The climbers, dressed in red padded anoraks bearing the Beijing Olympic logo, passed the flame between several torches as they traversed the icy slopes on the final steps to the summit.
A group of mainly ethnic Tibetan climbers left camp at 8,300m before dawn on Thursday for the final assault on the peak. Holding up Chinese and Olympic flags, they cheered "Beijing welcomes you!" and "One World, One Dream", the official slogan of the Beijing Olympics.
The first and last of the torch-bearers were Tibetan women.
"We have lit this torch on the top of the world for harmony and peace," said one of the mountaineers.
Security was very tight for the event, with other climbers being banned from the top of Mount Everest, which lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet, in China.
Both China and Nepal sealed off their sides of the mountain and the ascent organisers kept the exact plans a secret because of fears it might draw protests from pro-Tibet activists.Both China and Nepal sealed off their sides of the mountain and the ascent organisers kept the exact plans a secret because of fears it might draw protests from pro-Tibet activists.
Human rights activists have been angered by the crackdown on anti-Beijing protests in Tibetan areas of China in March that turned violent.Human rights activists have been angered by the crackdown on anti-Beijing protests in Tibetan areas of China in March that turned violent.
Mount Everest lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet, in China. The main Olympic torch, which is running separately, is continuing its relay through China.
The main torch is scheduled to visit every province in China before arriving in Beijing several days before the Olympics begin on 8 August. It was carried through the southern city of Guangzhou on Wednesday past cheering crowds with no reports of disruptions.
The international leg of the torch's tour was marred by protests in several cities - including London, Paris and San Francisco - by activists upset at China's human rights record. It is scheduled to visit every province in China before arriving in Beijing several days before the Olympics begin on 8 August.
The international leg of the torch's tour was marred by protests in several cities - including London, Paris and San Francisco - by activists critical of China's human rights record.


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