(ATR) China supporters shouting “Go Beijing!” crowded the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as the Olympic torch made a trouble-free trek through the city.
Vietnamese officials promised no protests would disrupt the relay, and they nipped dissent early, arresting at least two anti-China protesters before the relay.
Overseas Vietnamese groups called for protests, but officials tightened security with motorcycles and riot police escorting the flame.
The police deterred clashes between Chinese nationals and protesters that plagued the South Korean leg of the relay. South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo called for "legal and diplomatic measures" against Chinese who assaulted Korean protesters in Seoul.
Vietnam is the last leg of the international relay which began April 2 in Kazakhstan.
Under the original plan for the relay, Taipei was to be the next stop, but Taiwan government leaders refused to accept the Olympic flame as long as Hong Kong was the next stop. The Taiwan politicians said that routing implied that the island was considered part of mainland China. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, while Taiwan asserts its own sovereignty, recognized by only a handful of nations.
Now the torch relay has a two-day rest before a leg in Hong Kong May 2 followed by Macao on May 3. Reuters reports Beijing is pressuring Hong Kong to tighten security and immigration prior to the relay to prevent any embarrassing protests.
On May 4 the relay will reach the mainland for the start of a three-month trek through China.
Written by Eric Connelly
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