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| Argentina braced for torch relay | Argentina braced for torch relay |
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| The Olympic torch has been hidden in a secret location ahead of its planned appearance in Argentina, as authorities hope protests will not mar the parade. | The Olympic torch has been hidden in a secret location ahead of its planned appearance in Argentina, as authorities hope protests will not mar the parade. |
| Several thousand police and marshals will line the 13km (8-mile) route the torch will follow through Buenos Aires. | Several thousand police and marshals will line the 13km (8-mile) route the torch will follow through Buenos Aires. |
| The flame has sparked anti-China protests as it has passed through the UK, France and the US, and Argentine protesters have promised a "surprise". | The flame has sparked anti-China protests as it has passed through the UK, France and the US, and Argentine protesters have promised a "surprise". |
| Meanwhile Japan has said it will ban the torch's Chinese security detail. | Meanwhile Japan has said it will ban the torch's Chinese security detail. |
| The security team has accompanied the torch on the relay so far, and has attracted some criticism for barging protesters aside. | The security team has accompanied the torch on the relay so far, and has attracted some criticism for barging protesters aside. |
| Map of planned world torch relay route | Map of planned world torch relay route |
| Australia, and now Japan, have said they will provide their own security when the torch arrives on their soil. | Australia, and now Japan, have said they will provide their own security when the torch arrives on their soil. |
| Friday's tour through Buenos Aires is the only stop the torch is making in South America. | Friday's tour through Buenos Aires is the only stop the torch is making in South America. |
| The authorities there have taken a number of precautions to try to lessen the chances of serious disruption, giving the torch a low-key reception when it arrived by plane on Thursday, and whisking it to a secret location. | The authorities there have taken a number of precautions to try to lessen the chances of serious disruption, giving the torch a low-key reception when it arrived by plane on Thursday, and whisking it to a secret location. |
| Overshadowed | Overshadowed |
| But some protesters were already preparing to voice their opinions on the staging of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. | But some protesters were already preparing to voice their opinions on the staging of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. |
| Activist Jorge Carcavallo unfurled a giant banner along the torch route reading "Free Tibet", while Axel Borgia, a member of the Falun Gong spiritual movement banned in China, accused Beijing of "crimes against humanity". | Activist Jorge Carcavallo unfurled a giant banner along the torch route reading "Free Tibet", while Axel Borgia, a member of the Falun Gong spiritual movement banned in China, accused Beijing of "crimes against humanity". |
| Chinese reaction to protests'Houdini torch' relay disappointsIn pictures: San Francisco relayMedia coverage: China vs West | Chinese reaction to protests'Houdini torch' relay disappointsIn pictures: San Francisco relayMedia coverage: China vs West |
| The relay has become a focus for people angry about China's human rights record and its crackdown on recent demonstrations in Tibet. | The relay has become a focus for people angry about China's human rights record and its crackdown on recent demonstrations in Tibet. |
| It has also sparked counter-protests by Chinese expatriates keen to show support for their country and the Olympic Games. | It has also sparked counter-protests by Chinese expatriates keen to show support for their country and the Olympic Games. |
| The politics has overshadowed the sporting celebration that the Beijing organisers and the International Olympic Committee intended the torch relay to be. | The politics has overshadowed the sporting celebration that the Beijing organisers and the International Olympic Committee intended the torch relay to be. |
| The head of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, has spoken of a "crisis", and the organisation has been forced to consider the future of the torch relay. | The head of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, has spoken of a "crisis", and the organisation has been forced to consider the future of the torch relay. |
| With a number of national leaders considering staying away from the Beijing Olympics, and the European Parliament proposing a boycott, Mr Rogge insisted on Friday that "public opinion around the world does not want any boycotts". | With a number of national leaders considering staying away from the Beijing Olympics, and the European Parliament proposing a boycott, Mr Rogge insisted on Friday that "public opinion around the world does not want any boycotts". |
| "The Olympic Games is about the athletes themselves and the athletes are innocent," he said. | "The Olympic Games is about the athletes themselves and the athletes are innocent," he said. |
| Speaking in Beijing, he also praised "excellent" preparations for the Olympics and said he was "optimistic the Games will be a great success". | |
| Carter demurs | Carter demurs |
| He said the IOC had no right to tell China how to deal with sovereign issues like Tibet and human rights. | |
| On Thursday Beijing had rebuked him for urging China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights. | |
| China also expressed its "strong indignation" after the US Congress passed a resolution calling on Beijing to stop cracking down on Tibetan dissent and to talk to the Dalai Lama. | China also expressed its "strong indignation" after the US Congress passed a resolution calling on Beijing to stop cracking down on Tibetan dissent and to talk to the Dalai Lama. |
| IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge has spoken of "crisis" | IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge has spoken of "crisis" |
| The BBC's Quentin Somerville in Beijing says China had been hoping for an impressive roll call of world leaders at the opening ceremony on 8 August for "the greatest show on earth". | The BBC's Quentin Somerville in Beijing says China had been hoping for an impressive roll call of world leaders at the opening ceremony on 8 August for "the greatest show on earth". |
| But UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have said they will not go, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is undecided and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he may not make it. | But UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have said they will not go, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is undecided and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he may not make it. |
| US President George W Bush is under pressure from White House hopefuls John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama not to attend. | US President George W Bush is under pressure from White House hopefuls John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama not to attend. |
| However, former US President Jimmy Carter, who was in office when the US boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, said to do the same now would be "a serious mistake". | However, former US President Jimmy Carter, who was in office when the US boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, said to do the same now would be "a serious mistake". |
| While there were undoubtedly human rights abuses in China, he said, the USSR had in 1980 just invaded Afghanistan. | While there were undoubtedly human rights abuses in China, he said, the USSR had in 1980 just invaded Afghanistan. |
| China insists it is unconcerned about reports of potential boycotts. | China insists it is unconcerned about reports of potential boycotts. |
| "The Beijing Olympics opening ceremony is not a leaders' summit," said Zhan Yongxin of the Chinese foreign ministry, quoted by Reuters. | "The Beijing Olympics opening ceremony is not a leaders' summit," said Zhan Yongxin of the Chinese foreign ministry, quoted by Reuters. |
| After Argentina, the next stop for the Olympic flame is Tanzania, where Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai has withdrawn from the relay, citing concerns over human rights in China. | After Argentina, the next stop for the Olympic flame is Tanzania, where Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai has withdrawn from the relay, citing concerns over human rights in China. |
| OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to AthensAfter handover ceremony, taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the worldTorch arrives in Macau on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August See detailed route on Beijing 2008 official site | OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to AthensAfter handover ceremony, taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the worldTorch arrives in Macau on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August See detailed route on Beijing 2008 official site |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Will you be watching the torch as it travels through Buenos Aires? Are you in China? What do you think of the protests and the torch relay? You can send your comments using the form below: | Will you be watching the torch as it travels through Buenos Aires? Are you in China? What do you think of the protests and the torch relay? You can send your comments using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |