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Olympic torch tours Ho Chi Minh | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
The Olympic torch is due to tour Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on the final international stop of its troubled global relay. | |
The parade is expected to pass off fairly smoothly, unlike previous legs dominated by anti-China protests. | |
But a group of activists have promised demonstrations linked to a territorial dispute with Beijing. | But a group of activists have promised demonstrations linked to a territorial dispute with Beijing. |
It comes amid a row between South Korea and China over scuffles during the torch relay in Seoul. | |
At the torch relay on Sunday, police struggled to contain Chinese supporters who threw stones at demonstrators protesting over unrest in Tibet and Beijing's repatriation of North Korean refugees. | At the torch relay on Sunday, police struggled to contain Chinese supporters who threw stones at demonstrators protesting over unrest in Tibet and Beijing's repatriation of North Korean refugees. |
This has triggered public anger in South Korea and on Monday the government expressed "strong regret" to the Chinese ambassador over the incidents. | This has triggered public anger in South Korea and on Monday the government expressed "strong regret" to the Chinese ambassador over the incidents. |
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said they had "hurt national pride considerably", Yonhap news agency reported. | On Tuesday, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said they had "hurt national pride considerably", Yonhap news agency reported. |
Island dispute | Island dispute |
The torch arrived in Vietnam from North Korea, where large crowds turned out to greet it in the tightly-controlled communist state. | The torch arrived in Vietnam from North Korea, where large crowds turned out to greet it in the tightly-controlled communist state. |
The parade in Ho Chi Minh City will depart in the early evening from the 19th Century opera hall. | The parade in Ho Chi Minh City will depart in the early evening from the 19th Century opera hall. |
Sixty runners will carry it along an undisclosed route to a military stadium, officials said. | Sixty runners will carry it along an undisclosed route to a military stadium, officials said. |
A small group of Chinese citizens waved flags of support as the stage was made ready for the opening ceremony of the relay. | |
In the capital, Hanoi, dozens of security police were stationed outside the Chinese Embassy blocking the way to the building. | |
China and Vietnam have strong economic ties and large-scale protests linked to Tibet are not expected. | China and Vietnam have strong economic ties and large-scale protests linked to Tibet are not expected. |
But some activists say they will rally against China's claim to the disputed Spratly Islands - a South China Sea archipelago thought to have oil and gas reserves. | But some activists say they will rally against China's claim to the disputed Spratly Islands - a South China Sea archipelago thought to have oil and gas reserves. |
After Vietnam, the torch goes to Hong Kong to begin the domestic leg of the relay. | After Vietnam, the torch goes to Hong Kong to begin the domestic leg of the relay. |
International protests have turned the torch's celebratory tour of 20 countries into what analysts describe as a public-relations disaster for Beijing. | International protests have turned the torch's celebratory tour of 20 countries into what analysts describe as a public-relations disaster for Beijing. |
Demonstrations in Athens, London, Paris and San Francisco have dominated media coverage of the relay. | Demonstrations in Athens, London, Paris and San Francisco have dominated media coverage of the relay. |
But the flame has made relatively peaceful progress through other cities, including Bangkok in Thailand and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. | But the flame has made relatively peaceful progress through other cities, including Bangkok in Thailand and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. |