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LONDON : British police battled to keep pro-Tibet demonstrators away from the Beijing Olympics flame as it passed through London on Sunday, arresting 35 protesters who tried to disrupt the high-security tour.
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes took the torch from Premier League footballer Theo Walcott, ran the last leg of the 48-kilometre route to east London's O2 Arena, and lit a cauldron on a stage in front of the indoor stadium before hundreds of onlookers.
Earlier in the day, however, there were continual scuffles along the route as each member of the relay team of renowned British athletes, pop stars and television personalities handed over the flame to the next runner.
Police on bikes and running alongside the flame escorted each member of the relay.
Two demonstrators against China's crackdown in Tibet were arrested as they attempted to extinguish the torch Sunday morning, and a third was pushed to the ground as he tried to seize the flame from a British television presenter taking part in the relay later in the day.
Police said they had made 35 arrests for public order offences and estimated that more than 1,000 demonstrators turned out.
A Beijing Olympic official, meanwhile, strongly criticised attempts by the pro-Tibet activists to disrupt the torch relay, state media reported.
An unnamed spokesman from the torch relay centre of the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee was quoted as saying the Olympic flame represented peace, friendship and progress, the state Xinhua news agency said.
Attempts to "sabotage" the relay in London were "an obvious act of defying the Olympic spirit," he added, according to the agency.
Shouts of "Free Tibet, Free Tibet," echoed around the streets, while demonstrators held up banners and had their faces painted in the colours of the Tibetan flag. Pro-China supporters were also out in force.
Former Olympic champion rower Steve Redgrave started the relay that began at Wembley Stadium under unseasonal snowfall. There were arrests as Redgrave handed over the flame to a 16-year-old girl.
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy told AFP that its ambassador to Britain, Fu Ying, had run without trouble in London's Chinatown. He would not confirm reports that her route had been changed to avoid trouble.
Beijing has faced international criticism over its crackdown on protests in Tibet that began on March 10 and which have spread to other areas of China with Tibetan populations.
Exiled Tibetan leaders say more than 150 people have been killed in the unrest. China has given a figure of 20.
But China's top official in Tibet, rejecting demands by activists around the world, insisted on Sunday that the Beijing Olympics torch relay would pass through Tibet as planned.
Some 2,000 British police officers were deployed to protect the London torch procession.
Ahead of the relay London police said they expected six organisations including the Free Tibet movement, Falungong and the Burma Campaign to have demonstrators on the streets.
But they were outnumbered by thousands of people who lined the streets to enjoy the relay and carnival atmosphere. A number of China supporters also braved the cold temperatures to voice their political opinions.
The torch was met by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at his Downing Street residence. Brown has brushed aside criticism of his plans to attend Beijing Olympic ceremonies, insisting it is the right thing as London will host the 2012 Games.
Among the other torch-bearers were round-the-world sailor Ellen MacArthur, tennis player Tim Henman, rugby player Kenny Logan, rower Ed Coode, cricketer Kevin Pietersen, violinist Vanessa Mae, singers the Sugababes, rugby coach Clive Woodward and heptathlete Denise Lewis.
Stand-up comedian Francesca Martinez withdrew on Thursday in protest against China.
The torch heads for Paris on Monday and French authorities have also prepared massive security for the relay which has sparked protests since it was lit in Greece a week ago at the start of its 85,000-mile, 21-country journey to Beijing. - AFP/de
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