China denounces Tibet protest

BEIJING (AFP) -
China Tuesday said attempts to disrupt the Olympic torch relay were "shameful" after protests at the ceremony to light the flame added to pressure over its handling of ongoing unrest in Tibet. 

Amid reports of new bloodshed during a major crackdown by Chinese forces, the demonstrations in Greece on Monday underlined world anger over Tibet and a determination to keep harassing China's communist leaders on the issue.

But China's foreign ministry had only sharp words for the protests and urged countries on the relay route to ensure its smooth progress.

"Any act to disrupt the Olympic torch relay is shameful and unpopular," ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters in Beijing in China's first official reaction to the incidents.

"We also believe that competent authorities in countries through which the torch relay will pass have the obligation to ensure a smooth relay.

With Tibetan exiles putting the death toll from 10 days of unrest at around 140, protesters condemning China's rights record briefly disrupted the flame ceremony as it was broadcast live to the world from Ancient Olympia.

Later, 10 Tibetan activists staged a protest in the town's main street.

Chinese media largely ignored the incidents in their accounts of the torch lighting, which kicked off a five-month world tour of the Olympic flame in the run-up to the August 8-24 Games, seen by Beijing as China's great coming-out party.

The China Daily called the flame ceremony "a perfect start," while the Global Times, a specialised newspaper focusing on international issues, carried a short reference to the protests at the end of a lengthy, positive report.