Paris torch parade cut short due to protests

[Technologic]

Another win for the protesters

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7334545.stm


Paris protests mar Olympic relay



Hundreds of protesters were on Paris's streets


Paris protests


French security officials have been forced to extinguish the Olympic torch three times as it passes through Paris ahead of the Beijing Games in August.
Officials extinguished and put the torch on a bus for safety reasons, in the face of anti-China protests.
The mayor of Paris cancelled a ceremony due to mark the torch relay after activists hung a Tibetan flag from the city hall.
Police have made several arrests as protesters try to disrupt the relay.
The French protests came after 37 people were arrested during pro-Tibet protests which disrupted Sunday's relay in London.
Earlier on Monday, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, expressed concern over unrest in Tibet and the torch protests.
'Olympic values'
Security in Paris has been extremely tight, with some 3,000 police on duty, riding motorcycles, jogging or on skates.

About 500 protesters were reported to be involved in the demonstrations, mainly near the Eiffel Tower.
See the Paris route


Several hundred demonstrators waving banners gathered on the Trocadero esplanade where the relay began at 1235 (1035 GMT).
The International Olympic Committee has expressed its serious concern and calls for a rapid peaceful resolution in Tibet


Jacques Rogge, IOC President



How is the flame kept alight?
Long history of Olympics protests

A member of the French Green party was restrained by police after attempting to grab the torch from the first of Paris's 80 torch bearers, former world 400 metres hurdles champion Stephane Diagana, Reuters news agency said.
Police were forced three times to put out the torch and carried it onto a bus, as police cleared protesters from the route.
The flame itself has been kept alight the whole time in a safety lantern.
On the second occasion, the flame was being relayed out of a Paris traffic tunnel by an athlete in a wheelchair when it was taken onto a bus because protesters booed and began chanting "Tibet", the Associated Press (AP) reported.
Speaking in Beijing earlier, IOC President Jacques Rogge said he was concerned over both the recent unrest in Paris and the torch protests.
China has expressed disgust at the torch protests in London

"The International Olympic Committee has expressed its serious concern and calls for a rapid peaceful resolution in Tibet," Mr Rogge said.
He condemned the attempts to disrupt the torch relay, saying violent protests, "for whatever reason," are "not compatible with the values of the torch relay or the Olympic Games".
China said the protests during London's Sunday torch relay were the work of "a few Tibetan separatists" attempting "to sabotage" the event, AP reported.
London's relay saw protesters trying to douse and even snatch the Olympic flame as athletes and celebrities carried it through the city.
The demonstrations have been sparked by China's security crackdown in Tibet following a series of protests against Chinese rule which swept the region last month. Tibetan exile groups say Chinese security forces killed dozens of protesters. Beijing says about 19 people were killed in rioting. The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, on 24 March and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the opening ceremony at the Beijing Games on 8 August.

[Jordy]

I can't wait to see the photo of these banners everywhere, they almost got a 13 foot one up the Eiffel tower it would of been a sight I bet. The activists must be rather pleased with themselves, they've made a huge mark in London & Paris, they almost grabbed it and they managed to end it in Paris, Kudos to them!

[-Xiangu-]

No matter what happens the olympic torch is meant to represent peace I think it is stupid that people are trying to ruin it.

[Jordy]

No matter what happens the olympic torch is meant to represent peace I think it is stupid that people are trying to ruin it.

I was a bit sceptical at first too but it really needs to be said. China illegally took over Tibet when it was very weak in 1949 because of the Chinese Civil War, they've kept ruling it and not very well ever since. The Tibetans have been campaigning ever since it happened but this is the year where they can really make a stand and their voice's will be heard, this is China's big year to show the world who they've become and they're hoping to stage one of the best Olympics ever, and obviously everyone pays lots of attention to the Olympics and it's build-up.

The Tibetans can be heard this year because the world is watching and listening, they've got support all round the world but no government's are doing anything about it so they're trying to protest and disrupt the Olympics as much as possible, it's such a good opportunity for them and it's unlikely they'll ever get one like this again, they're trying to do everything they can and make their voice's heard.

[mangle]

I laughed at that guy y'day who got OWNED when he was like speared into a barrier!

[Corporal]

No matter what happens the olympic torch is meant to represent peace I think it is stupid that people are trying to ruin it.

China isnt reporting any infomation on this or they are doing little. the chinease people will wonder why it was cut short

[Technologic]

China isnt reporting any infomation on this or they are doing little. the chinease people will wonder why it was cut short

Who says they'll knwo it was cut short?

[Corporal]

Who says they'll knwo it was cut short?

well if they knew the route of it then they will

[Technologic]

well if they knew the route of it then they will

The chinese news will report everything went smoothly with a few unjustified and ilegal protesters along the way...