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Five arrested at torch
relay in Japan
Five men were arrested Saturday at
the Olympic torch relay in Nagano, Japan, as protesters demonstrated
against the Chinese crackdown in Tibet, officials said.
Kyodo news service reported those arrested tried unsuccessfully to
disrupt the torch relay.
"Our security duty for the Beijing Olympic torch relay finished all
right. I would like to thank the citizens for their understanding and
support and all the people related to the matter from bottom of my
heart,'' said Takashi Ishii, head of the Nagano prefectural police.
As the torch made its way through the city, Kyodo said human rights
activists decrying the Chinese government's treatment of the Tibetans
clashed with pro-China demonstrators, who echoed the governments claims
that the Tibetans are seeking to break away from Chinese rule.
Japanese runner Mizuki Noguchi, who won the gold in the Athens Summer
Games in 2004, was the final runner in the torch relay. She said she was
"praying for peace" while running.
After leaving Japan, the torch moved to Seoul.
2008-04-26 |
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