Gordon Brown Contraversially Meets China’s Olympic Flame

Gordon Brown has given his official support to China's Olympic Torch as it was brought to Downing street today. By Meeting the Torch he is clearly showing his support for China's Olympic games and their attempt to legitimise their occupation of Tibet and the brutal suppression of peaceful independence protesters. This demonstrates Gordon Brown's weak stance on China, more concerned with preserving economic ties than protecting human rights.
The torch left downing street as more protesters ran into the road trying to block the torch and running along side. Further along, the torch was surrounded by Free Tibet protesters chanting "Shame on China" and "Free Tibet".

Free Tibet protestors attempt to stop China’s Olympic Torch

Several Free Tibet protestors have been detained after numerous attempts to get in front of the Olympic torch.
Ona man managed to get his hands on the torch and pull it away from Konnie Huq as she was running with the torch.
A second protestor attempted to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher, covering the group of police and private security with white smoke.
There have so far been around 6 attempts to get past the security and protest the torch being run through London.

DARING BANNER HANG PROTESTS CHINA’S OLYMPIC TORCH

Four Tibet independence activists were detained this morning after
two of them abseiled off Westminster Bridge and unfurled a 74 square meter
banner reading, "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet 2008," mocking
China's Olympics slogan "One World, One Dream." The action took place on
the eve of the controversial arrival of China's Olympic torch relay in
London, amidst mounting pressure on the International Olympic Committee to
remove all Tibetan areas from the relay route.

Click here for the press release and footage of the protest.

Updated Times for Torch Events this Weekend

FRIDAY 4th APRIL

Night of Solidarity - details unchanged, see flyer below.

SUNDAY 6th APRIL

1. The Olympic torch will be passing through London on April 6th on a route from Wembley Stadium to North Greenwich. Tibetans and their supporters will hold protests as the torch passes along the route. These are:

a) Queensway – Gather at 11:00 at the junction of Queensway and Bayswater Road. The torch is due to pass through at 11:30. (Nearest tube: Queensway or Bayswater)

b) Bedford Place – Gather at 11:45 at the junction of Bedford Place and Great Russell Street. The torch is due to pass through at 12:20. (Nearest tubes: Russell Square and Holborn)

c) Whitehall – Gather at 12:30 at junction of Richmond Terrace and Whitehall) opposite Downing Street). The torch will pass through at approx. 13:00 on Whitehall (nearest tubes: Westminster and Charing Cross) before making their way to King’s Cross for the Tibetan Freedom Torch Rally.

2. Gather at 14:15 for the rally at Argyle Square (see flyer below for details).

Please turn up well ahead of the specified times. The relay organisers may try to get the flame through ahead of the advertised times in order to circumvent protesters.

LONDON TORCH RELAY EVENTS – 4-6th APRIL

Join Tibetans from across Europe are travelling to London for the Tibetan Fredom Torch Relay (see below) in SFT UK's Night of Solidarity with music and talks from Tibetan artists and inspirational speakers.

Sunday 6 April

March 10th was big, now the Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay will be bigger! The Olympic Torch arrives in London on Sunday April 6th. Join the Tibetan Freedom Torch to support Team Tibet and an end to China's occupation

There will be protests along the official Chinese torch route - please bring Tibetan flags and banners. You can protest along the route but we have selected a spot for mass protests:

1pm at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing street, the office of Prime Minister Gordon Brown (near Trafalgar Square)
Closest tube: Westminster, Leicester Square, Charing Cross

2.30pm: Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay at Argyle Square, opposite Kings Cross Station. (see flyer above for detail)

From Leicester Square it should take about 10 minutes to reach Argyle Square, from Westminster 15 minutes on the tube (metro).

3.30 - 4pm: The torch will be carried to Paris by Tibetans and supporters including two of the Drapchi Nuns from King Cross St Pancreas station.