Olympic Flame Handed to China Amid Protests

In a ceremony more reminiscent of a military operation, with helicopters hovering overhead and thousands of police standing by, the Olympic flame was yesterday handed over to Chinese officials in Athens as pro-Tibetan protesters scuffled with security officials.

Despite the unprecedented security measures, dozens of activists emerged from behind a heavy police cordon to denounce Beijing's human rights record as the last Greek torch-bearer entered the capital's ancient stadium where Chinese officials lined up to receive the flame.

The protesters, from all over Europe, were bundled into a police van after unfurling a banner that proclaimed "Stop the genocide in Tibet".

One activist, a Greek environmental campaigner, Roza Minakouli, 65, who was detained, told Associated Press: "We have no business sharing the flame, the symbol of peace and friendship, with people who do not deserve it."

From London to Sydney, activists have pledged to step up the protests. Last week, Greek and foreign demonstrators sabotaged the flame's lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the games, and physically tried to stop torch-bearers as they carried the flame on the first leg of its relay around Greece. The protests forced local Olympic committee organizers to change the relay route around Athens several times over the weekend.

Fears were such that the timing of the flame's ascent to the Acropolis, where it traditionally spends a night before being handed over to the Olympic host city's officials, was kept secret on Saturday.

Foreign media were also forbidden from entering the ancient monument and covering the event.

The flame begins its five-month long global relay after being welcomed in a Tiananmen Square ceremony today.

Greek officials have gone out of their way to play down the commotion, dismissing the protests as the actions of a "super, super minority".

But it was clear yesterday that the disturbances have also caused unprecedented concern, with the head of Greece's Olympic committee urging the international community to "respect the Olympic flame" as its makes its journey around the world.

"The Olympic flame is the tireless symbol of Olympic ideals and values," said Minos Kyriakou, moments before giving the torch to the head of the Beijing Olympic committee, Liu Qi. "I hope the world community welcomes the flame and honors it with the necessary respect."