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Protests at Argentine torch rally Argentine torch relay unhindered
(about 4 hours later)
Protesters have gathered in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, where the Olympic torch is being paraded. Argentine athletes have carried the Olympic torch through the streets of Buenos Aires, on the latest leg of its troubled world tour.
Authorities are mounting a major security operation, keen to avoid the disruption that marred the flame's progress through the UK, US and France. A major security operation was mounted to try to avoid the scenes that marred the relay in the UK, France and the US.
Several thousand police and marshals have lined the 13km (8-mile) route the torch will follow through Buenos Aires. Both anti-China protesters and supporters of the Beijing Games turned out, but only minor scuffles were reported and the torch was not impeded.
But anti-China activists protesting against the Beijing Games have promised "entertaining surprises". One local man described the parade as "beautiful, a marvellous spectacle".
Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri lit the torch and held it aloft on Friday as hundreds of sporting enthusiasts applauded.
But activist Jorge Carcavallo unfurled a giant banner on the torch route reading "Free Tibet".
And members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is banned in China, lit their own "human rights torch" and marched along the route the flame was to take.
Map of planned world torch relay routeMap of planned world torch relay route
Anti-China activists had promised some "entertaining surprises", but nothing serious emerged, and the only apparent attempt to derail the relay were a few water balloons thrown at the torch, easily deflected by guards.
Torch cheered
Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri lit the torch and after an elaborate artistic display it was carried through the city's streets and along its canal by Argentine athletes and rowers.
Activist Jorge Carcavallo unfurled a giant banner on the torch route reading "Free Tibet".
In pictures: Argentine torch relayChinese reaction to protests'Houdini torch' relay disappoints
And members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is banned in China, lit their own "human rights torch" and marched along the route the flame was to take.
Police separated the few dozen pro-Tibet demonstrators from a similar-sized group of Chinese residents, who waved the Chinese flag and sang the national anthem as they prepared to cheer the torch.Police separated the few dozen pro-Tibet demonstrators from a similar-sized group of Chinese residents, who waved the Chinese flag and sang the national anthem as they prepared to cheer the torch.
class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7340987.stm">Chinese reaction to protests class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7339923.stm">'Houdini torch' relay disappoints class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7339862.stm">In pictures: San Francisco relay class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7340832.stm">Media coverage: China vs West But most spectators appeared to be intent on supporting the torch as it passed.
The torch's relay around the world has become a focus for people angry about China's human rights record and its crackdown on recent demonstrations in Tibet.The torch's relay around the world has become a focus for people angry about China's human rights record and its crackdown on recent demonstrations in Tibet.
Scuffles broke out in London and Paris as protesters tried to obstruct the flame's progress, grab it or even put it out.Scuffles broke out in London and Paris as protesters tried to obstruct the flame's progress, grab it or even put it out.
The relay has also sparked counter-protests by Chinese expatriates keen to show support for their country and the Olympic Games.The relay has also sparked counter-protests by Chinese expatriates keen to show support for their country and the Olympic Games.
'Public oppose boycott''Public oppose boycott'
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.
Mr Rogge insisted on Friday that "public opinion around the world does not want any boycotts" of the Games. But Mr Rogge insisted there was no public support for a boycott of the Olympics. "The athletes don't want it and the public does not want it," he told the BBC.
IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge has spoken of "crisis"IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge has spoken of "crisis"
"The Olympic Games is about the athletes themselves and the athletes are innocent," he said. He said it was "sad" that the torch relay had been disrupted by protests, since "the torch does not belong to Beijing or China. It is the torch of humanity".
Speaking in Beijing, he also praised "excellent" preparations for the Olympics and said he was "optimistic the Games will be a great success". Speaking in Beijing, he also praised "excellent" preparations for the Olympics and said he was "optimistic the Games will be a great success". He said the IOC had no right to tell China how to deal with sovereign issues like Tibet and human rights.
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.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.
Carter demursCarter demurs
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.
Friday's tour through Buenos Aires is the only stop the torch is making in South America. After Buenos Aires, the next stop is Tanzania.
The next stop is Tanzania. Japan on Friday said it would not let the torch's Chinese security guards, who have attracted criticism for barging protesters aside, accompany the torch on Japanese soil.
Japan on Friday said it would not let the torch's Chinese security guards, who have attracted criticism for barging protesters aside, accompany the torch on Japanese soil.
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 siteOLYMPIC 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
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