'No force' will halt torch relay

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Pro-Tibet protests have marred the European leg of the relay, with 37 people arrested in London on Sunday and further problems 24 hours later in Paris, where the torch had to be extinguished on three occasions before the relay was cut short by officials.

But Weide said: "No force can stop the torch relay of the Beijing Games."

There was more trouble ahead of the next leg of the relay in San Francisco on Tuesday as police in the city arrested seven people after a handful of protesters scaled the Golden Gate Bridge and unfurled pro-Tibet banners.

But the groundswell of opposition in San Francisco ahead of the relay, which will see 80 torchbearers carry the flame on a six-mile route along the city's Bay area, suggests that more trouble lays in store for the Beijing organisers.

"If the IOC [International Olympic Committee] allows the torch to proceed into Tibet they'll have blood on their hands," San Francisco protester Laurel Sutherlin told reporters in comments quoted by BBC Sport.

The Olympic flame is scheduled to visit a total of 20 countries before arriving in Beijing in August.