Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Olympic torch relay descends into chaos

Olympic torch relay descends into chaos
By JEROME PUGMIRE and ELAINE GANLEY, Associated Press Writers
29 minutes ago

PARIS - Security officials snuffed out the Olympic torch and carried it through Paris in the safety of a bus at least five times Monday as chaotic protests against China's human rights record turned the relay into a chaotic series of stops and starts.

Despite massive security, at least two activists got within almost an arm's length of the flame before they were grabbed by police. A protester threw water at the torch but failed to extinguish it and was taken away. Officers tackled numerous protesters and carried some away.

At the start of the relay, on the Eiffel Tower's first floor, Green Party activist Sylvain Garel lunged for the first torchbearer, former hurdler Stephane Diagana, shouting "Freedom for the Chinese!" Security officials pulled Garel back.

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Full article => http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080407/ap_on_re_eu/olympic_torch

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