Olympic torch relay cancelled amid protests in Paris

[Woodmonkey]

Olympic torch relay cancelled amid protests in Paris

A relay of the Olympic torch through Paris was cancelled on Monday and the flame was put on a bus at the request of Chinese officials after pro-Tibetan protesters repeatedly snarled its progress, police said.

The Chinese authorities organizing the five-hour passage of the torch decided to give up the road relay after human rights demonstrations in front of parliament and opted instead to speed the flame through the streets on a bus.

Shortly before, the Chinese cancelled a planned reception for the torch at Paris city hall at the last minute after a banner supporting human rights was hung from the facade of the building, mayor Bernard Delanoe told reporters.

"The Chinese officials decided they would not stop here because they were put out by Parisian citizens expressing their support for human rights. It is their responsibility," he said.

The Paris leg of the Olympic relay set off at 12.30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. EDT) from the Eiffel Tower but swiftly ran into crowds of protesters and the flame had to be extinguished at least twice after demonstrators neared the torch bearers.

Officials said the torch would be carried by bus to the final leg of the relay as planned at the Charlety stadium, on the southern edge of Paris.

The Source