Five arrested as the Olympic torch journey reaches Japan
CHINESE students clashed with pro-Tibet protesters and Japanese nationalists during today's leg of the Olympic torch relay in the Japanese city of Nagano.
Four Chinese supporters were injured and five men were arrested, said police.
Eggs and a flare were thrown at the flame as two demonstrators tried to seize the torch.
Another man was wrestled to the ground after running into the relay path holding a Tibetan flag and shouting: "Free Tibet".
More than 3000 police were mobilised for the relay, which comes a day after Beijing announced it would hold talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama, the exiled Buddhist leader of Tibet.
The tracksuit-clad Chinese security officers were not involved, with Japanese riot police in running gear surrounding the athletes instead.
In a last-minute change, the relay began in a car park rather than a 1400-year-old Buddhist temple after protests from the religious community.
The full article contains 161 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
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Last Updated:
26 April 2008 11:50 AM
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Source:
Edinburgh Evening News
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
2008 Olympics