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Tibet Protests Could Snuff Olympic Torch's UK Visit

Posted Mar 21, 08 2:38 PM CDT in Sports,  World 

(Newser) – The Olympic torch will pass through London on April 6, meeting major protests over China's human-rights abuses in Tibet and other causes. The visit will test how disruptive political forces could be on the Summer Games—and how well British security forces are preparing for the 2012 London Olympics, the Times of London reports.

A security expert warns that trouble could affect Britain's plans for a torch relay in 2012. "It is reprehensible that anyone should use the torch for political ends," he said. Protests are planned elsewhere on the torch's 19-city international agenda, but the relay Beijing bills as "a journey of friendship, peace and harmony" could be cut short if London demonstrations turn violent.

Source Times (UK)

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Protesters demonstrate against the Olympic Games in Beijing in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Dominic Favre)
Protestors carry signs outside of City Hall in San Francisco, Monday, March 10, 2008. Tibetan immigrants united in prayer in front of City Hall to protest San Francisco's hosting of the Olympic torch.   (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Executive vice president of the Beijing organizing committee Jiang Xiaoyu, speaks during a press conference in Beijing, Wednesday, March 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Protesters demonstrate against the Olympic Games in Beijing in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Dominic Favre)
Protestors carry signs outside of City Hall in San Francisco. Tibetan immigrants united in prayer in front of City Hall to protest San Francisco's hosting of the Olympic torch in April.   (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
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2008 Beijing Olympics • London • Burma • Tibet • Darfur • human rights • Olympic torch • 2012 London Olympics • political demonstrations • activists


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