China: Olympic Games safe
China reassures spectators and competitors that the Beijing Olympics will be safe
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Tuesday, 05, Aug 2008 08:02
Chinese authorities have publicly reassured spectators and competitors that the Beijing Olympics will be safe.
Yesterday, 16 policemen were killed in a suspected terrorist attack at a border post in the Xinjiang region.
With the attack coming so soon before the opening ceremony - due to take place on Friday - Chinese authorities have been keen to play down fears of a similar incident occurring again.
"China has focused on strengthening security and protection around Olympic venues and at the Olympics village, so Beijing is already prepared to respond to any threat," Beijing Games spokesman Sun Weide is quoted as saying.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also come out and publicly supported China's security efforts ahead of the games, claiming that everything possible had been done "to ensure the security and safety of everyone at the Games".
On Monday, two men drove up to the border post near Kashgar and threw grenades at policemen before attacking them with knives.
The Reuters news agency claims 18 "foreign agitators" have been arrested today.
Meanwhile, Japan is reported to have lodged a protest after two Japanese journalists were allegedly beaten by Chinese police.