Protests overshadow lighting of China's Olympic flame

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AFP) — Protests against China's human rights record and crackdown in Tibet disrupted ceremonies on Monday to light the Olympic flame for the Beijing Games.

Three men from a media rights group breached tight security around Ancient Olympia to unfurl a flag demanding a boycott of the Olympics. Later 10 Tibetan activists staged a protest in the town's main street before they were detained or chased by police.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said there was no "momentum" for a boycott of the Games which start in the Chinese capital on August 8.

"I think it's always sad when there are protests, but they were not violent and that's the most important thing," Rogge told reporters.

The three members of the...