Olympic Games 2008

Torch relay passes smoothly in Australia

Article published on the 2008-04-23 Latest update 2008-04-24 08:02 TU

Chinese President Hu Jintao with the first torch bearer in the relay.
(Photo : Reuters)

Some 500 police and a high security fence ensured that Canberra's torch relay finished without any major incidents. There were several arrests over isolated scuffles with both pro- and anti-China demonstrators. Local police took complete control of security, keeping China's controversial flame guards at a distance.

In Sydney, two people were arrested and three more taken into custody as they attempted to unfurl banners expressing solidarity with the Tibetan people.

 

But the pockets of protesters were outnumbered by the thousands of Chinese supporters who turned out to "protect the flame."

 

The Australian relay the latest chapter in a round-the-world relay that has already met aggressive protests in Paris, London and San Francisco.

 

France has been scrambling to smooth over the diplomatic rift that opened in the wake of the Paris leg of the journey. In the latest move, President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a biography of Charles de Gaulle to Chinese President Hu Jintao.

 

Now former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin is heading to Beijing bearing a personal message from Sarkozy condemning the action.

 

Meanwhile an American, preparing to climb Mount Everest, was arrested in Nepal when a pro-Tibet banner was found in his pack. The Nepalese authorities have been clamping down on climbers headed up the world’s tallest mountain in anticipation of the torch’s ascent with a Chinese expedition in May.

 

The northern, Chinese face of the mountain is closed to all climbers, while expeditions on the southern, Nepali, face have been restricted from climbing higher than 6,500 metres.

 

The torch’s next stop is Japan on 26 April.