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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Security surrounds Bangkok relay | Security surrounds Bangkok relay |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| More than 2,000 police and security officials are guarding the Olympic torch as it is carried through Bangkok for the Thai leg of a worldwide relay. | More than 2,000 police and security officials are guarding the Olympic torch as it is carried through Bangkok for the Thai leg of a worldwide relay. |
| Barricades have been set up along parts of the 10km route and thousands have turned out to watch the event. | Barricades have been set up along parts of the 10km route and thousands have turned out to watch the event. |
| Two people were stopped from unfurling a banner, but a BBC correspondent says the event has been mainly good-natured. | Two people were stopped from unfurling a banner, but a BBC correspondent says the event has been mainly good-natured. |
| There were large protests during relay stages in San Francisco, Paris and London over China's actions in Tibet. | There were large protests during relay stages in San Francisco, Paris and London over China's actions in Tibet. |
| The BBC's Andrew Harding, in Bangkok, says there was a brief scuffle within seconds of the start of the relay as a Thai and a foreign pro-Tibet activist tried to unfurl a banner. | The BBC's Andrew Harding, in Bangkok, says there was a brief scuffle within seconds of the start of the relay as a Thai and a foreign pro-Tibet activist tried to unfurl a banner. |
| The sign was quickly ripped from their hands by a group of Chinese men who surrounded the protesters, he said. | The sign was quickly ripped from their hands by a group of Chinese men who surrounded the protesters, he said. |
| Thai officials say the route from Chinatown to the Royal Plaza, which is expected to take three hours, could be changed or shortened at the last minute. | Thai officials say the route from Chinatown to the Royal Plaza, which is expected to take three hours, could be changed or shortened at the last minute. |
| The deputy prime minister, Sanan Kachornprasart, was the first of 80 runners to set off from Chinatown. | The deputy prime minister, Sanan Kachornprasart, was the first of 80 runners to set off from Chinatown. |
| "We reaffirm our position that we clearly separate politics and sport," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. | "We reaffirm our position that we clearly separate politics and sport," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. |
| "Thailand is ready to organise the torch relay peacefully and orderly." | "Thailand is ready to organise the torch relay peacefully and orderly." |
| Gentle handling | Gentle handling |
| The head of Thailand's Olympic Commitee, General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, said he expected the relay to pass off without major disruption. | |
| Anti-French protests have taken place in China over the Tibet issue | |
| "There are not many Tibetans in Thailand, but there are local human rights groups and pro-democracy groups who are planning some kind of operation at the moment," he said. | "There are not many Tibetans in Thailand, but there are local human rights groups and pro-democracy groups who are planning some kind of operation at the moment," he said. |
| "However our police will handle the operations gently and prevent any offences occurring." | "However our police will handle the operations gently and prevent any offences occurring." |
| The torch and runners are being escorted by police patrols and motorcycles all along the route. | The torch and runners are being escorted by police patrols and motorcycles all along the route. |
| Our correspondent says Thailand has strong links to China and the relay stage has been publicly endorsed by the revered royal family. | Our correspondent says Thailand has strong links to China and the relay stage has been publicly endorsed by the revered royal family. |
| India arrests | India arrests |
| The relay has been dogged by protests over Tibet, with chaotic scenes in London, Paris and San Francisco. | The relay has been dogged by protests over Tibet, with chaotic scenes in London, Paris and San Francisco. |
| In India, home to the world's largest community of Tibetan exiles, as well as their government-in-exile and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, the event on Thursday passed off without major disruption. | In India, home to the world's largest community of Tibetan exiles, as well as their government-in-exile and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, the event on Thursday passed off without major disruption. |
| Some 16,000 police sealed off the city centre along the truncated relay route. At least 100 pro-Tibet activists were arrested. | Some 16,000 police sealed off the city centre along the truncated relay route. At least 100 pro-Tibet activists were arrested. |
| In China, there were reports of protests outside French-owned Carrefour supermarkets in Beijing over France's attitude towards Tibet and the Olympic Games. | In China, there were reports of protests outside French-owned Carrefour supermarkets in Beijing over France's attitude towards Tibet and the Olympic Games. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy has not confirmed that he will be attending the opening ceremony of the Olympics, citing concerns about human rights in Tibet. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy has not confirmed that he will be attending the opening ceremony of the Olympics, citing concerns about human rights in Tibet. |
| The torch relay also includes stops in Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam before returning to Beijing for the Games in August. | The torch relay also includes stops in Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam before returning to Beijing for the Games in August. |
| 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 world Torch 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 world Torch 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 |