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 08 October 2008 00:37 BST

Bangkok leg of Olympic torch relay passes without incident

Saturday, 19 Apr 2008 14:59
The Olympic torch travelled unhindered through Bangkok
A heavy police presence has allowed the Bangkok leg of the Olympic torch relay to pass without any major disruptions today.

Yesterday Thai officials threatened to deport any foreign nationals who used the event to protest against the Chinese government.

Despite other cities curtailing the route the torch took in the wake of protests in Paris, London and San Francisco, Bangkok managed to run its original six-mile route which started in the city's Chinatown district.

There were a number of speeches at a special dais in Yaowarat, in the centre of Bangkok, where deputy prime minister Sanan Kachornprasart reminded the crowd that the torch relay was in honour of a sporting event.

"We reaffirm our position that we clearly separate politics and sport," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.

The torch was then passed between a number of dignitaries before being handed to the first of 80 runners who took the torch through the city.

There were some demonstrators on the route but none attempted to seize the torch and extinguish the flame as has happened at previous events.

Although there was heavy security, with barricades as well as around 2,000 police officers, most of the crowd who followed the torch were seen waving Thai and Chinese flags.

The torch will now travel to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur where the relay is set to begin on Monday.End of story


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