The Olympic torch arrived for its only North American stop amid heavy security Tuesday, one day after its visit to Paris descended into chaos and activists here scaled the Golden Gate Bridge to protest China’s human rights record.Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said the committee would consider ending the international leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay because of such anti-Chinese protests.
Rogge told The Associated Press he was “deeply saddened” by violent protests in London and Paris and concerned about the upcoming torch relay in San Francisco, where activists expressed fears Monday that the torch’s planned route through Tibet would lead to arrests and violent measures by Chinese officials trying to stifle dissent.
The flame arrived in San Francisco shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday and was to be driven to an undisclosed location, San Francisco Olympic Torch Relay Committee spokesman David Perry said. No protestors were seen at the airport, but a several demonstrations were planned before the torch’s six-mile relay Wednesday, including a relay supporting Tibetan independence.
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