Olympic torch relay disrupted in London

LONDON: Pro-Tibet protesters clashedwith police and tried to snatch and put out the Beijing Olympic torch leading tothe arrest of 10 people as the flame was paraded in the British capital onSunday. Braving unseasonal snow and chilly weather, hundreds ofpeople including sizeable number of pro-Tibetan campaigners had lined up theroute as the torch relay passed through Ladbroke Grove, British Museum and ChinaTown. (Watch: Protesters try to seize Olympic torch)Champion rower Sir Steve Redgrave began whatturned out to be a chaotic relay taking the torch out of the newly renovatedWembley stadium. Three people were arrested when protesters tried toboard the bus carrying the torch from the stadium after dodging the police.Protesters later tried to snatch the torch from former Blue peterpresenter Konnie Huq and a fire extinguisher was let off. At least10 arrests have been made from various places following clashes betweenpro-Tibet protesters, police said. Police in hundreds provided aprotective ring around the torch as it was carried by bus, foot, boat and lightrailway past some of London's most iconic sights. Pro-Tibetcampaigners had appealed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown not to welcomethe torch in Downing Street and to boycott the Beijing Olympics unless Chinaopened talks with the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. But Brownresisted the calls pointing out that the exiled Tibetan leader opposed suchaction.