Olympic torch passes through Buenos Aries unhindered
Saturday, 12 Apr 2008 14:35
The Olympic flame travelled through Buenos Aries unhindered
The Olympic torch has passed through Buenos Aries with few signs of any protests which hindered recent legs in London, Paris and San Francisco.
The Argentinean capital is the only city in South America to host a leg of the torch's journey while it passes through 22 countries on its way to Beijing for the start of the Olympic Games.
In other cities protestors had clashed with security officials as they tried to highlight China's human rights record as well as the country's treatment of Tibet and the violent scenes in the territory recently.
Security was significantly increased in the wake of previous legs which the torch has been on, but, after being kept in a secret location overnight, the torch travelled the eight-mile route of Buenos Aries without any protestors trying to extinguish the flame.
Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri lit the torch after a scene of pageantry involving dancers and singers before the torch left on its tour of the city.
The city's Chinese community were out in force to support the torch in Buenos Aries and some were heard singing the Chinese national anthem as it passed.
Only one incident of protest caught the eye during the Argentinean leg of the journey, when protestors unveiled a pro-Tibetan flag from the city's landmark obelisk, though even this was a peaceful demonstration in comparison with scenes in London, Paris and San Francisco.
The torch will now travel to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania for the eighth leg of its global journey tomorrow.