Protests, arrests mar Olympic torch relay leg in London

London - One man tried to snatch the Olympic torch and another tried to put out the flame as protests against China marred the London leg of the Olympic torch relay for the Beijing Games on Sunday.

By afternoon, 30 people were arrested as police scuffled with activists protesting against China's crackdown in Tibet and other human rights issues.

A man tried to take away the torch from television presenter Konnie Huq. He got his hand on the torch, but he was immediately wrestled down by two policemen and then led away.

Another person tried to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher. Police also led away three protesters after first scuffles broke out when rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave took the torch out of Wembley Stadium at the start of Sunday's leg.

Many protesters had also gathered in the Downing Street area as Prime Minister Gordon Brown greeted the flag outside his office at Number 10.

China's ambassador in Britain, Fu Ying, also carried the torch during an unpublished change of the route as the relay passed Chinatown where the torch received a particularly warm welcome.

But elsewhere as well thousands of Londoners had braved chilly temperatures and morning snow to see the flame, creating a carnival atmosphere. London will host the Olympics in 2012.

A police force of 2,000 was on hand as officers on bicycles accompanied Huq and other runners on the journey through the British capital.

The 50-kilometre journey from Wembley to the O2 Arena passed landmarks such as Tower Bridge and Nelson's Column.

In total, 80 athletes, celebrities and dignitaries were to carry the torch which was also travel via bicycle and bus. Apart from Redgrave, they also included Dame Kelly Holmes, who won double middle distance running gold 2004 in Athens.

Incidents also occurred during the lighting of the Olympic flame in ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 24, and the handover of the flame to China in Athens on March 30.

Protests were also planned for Monday when the torch relay comes to Paris.

The torch arrived late Saturday at Heathrow airport from St Petersburg, with Fu and British Olympics minister Tessa Jowell on hand to greet it.

The flame came to Beijing on March 31 from Greece but the next day went on the international leg of the longest torch relay in Olympic history. It returns to China on May 4, with controversial legs planned in Tibet and to the summit of Mt Everest.

The relay concludes on August 8 when the last torch bearer lights the Olympic Cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games. (dpa)

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