Olympic torch-lighting disrupted by protests
25 March 2008
The Olympic torch-lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia, Greece, was disrupted yesterday by three protesters from a media-rights group, AFP reported. The three members of Reporters Without Borders unfurled a flag, shouted "freedom!" and tried to grab the microphone from Liu Qi, the Beijing Olympics organizing committee's chief, as he made a speech. The men, which included Reporters Without Borders head Robert Menard, were quickly detained by security officers. They were taken to a nearby city and charged with an "offensive act." The organization said it would continue similar protests until August 8. Later, 10 Tibetan activists also staged a street protest before being detained or dispersed by police. Last August, Chinese police detained foreign journalists in Beijing who reported on a press conference held by the media rights group.
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