Chaos overshadows torch relay

The route was truncated at the last minute and was not widely released as police attempted to avoid scenes which marred the torch's progress through London and Paris earlier this week in the only North American leg of the journey to Beijing.

Demonstrators and thousands of pro-China spectators amassed on the San Francisco waterfront ready to protest against China's human rights policies but a cat and mouse game followed.

The first torchbearer left McCovey Cove heavily guarded by both American and Chinese police. The runner moved away from the crowd and took the torch into a warehouse, leaving 30 minutes later beside a motorcycle convoy.

City official Aaron Peskin, a vocal critic of Mayor Gavin Newsom, told the San Francisco Chronicle that thousands of citizens were deceived by the last-minute new route.

"(Newsom) misled supporters and opponents of the run," Peskin told the newspaper. "People brought their families and their children, and (Newsom) hatched a cynical plan to please the Bush state department and the Chinese government because of the incredible influence of money.

"He did it so China can report they had a great torch run. It's the worst kind of government - government by deceit and misinformation."

Chaos ensued when the majority of the crowd realised the route was switched, as pro-China supporters attacked a pro-Tibet sign along the original relay route, causing a widespread shoving match between the two sides.

Earlier in the day, IOC president Jacques Rogge opted to maintain his diplomatic stance on the issue of Chinese rule in Tibet in a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

"It was a good meeting where a range of Games topics were discussed between both parties," the IOC said in a statement.