Olympic torch arrives in Buenos Aires

The Olympic torch, symbol of this summer's 2008 Games in Beijing, arrived in Buenos Aires under tight security on Thursday, as authorities hoped to ward off the massive anti-China protests.

The Olympic torch, symbol of this summer's 2008 Games in Beijing, arrived in Buenos Aires under tight security on Thursday, as authorities hoped to ward off the massive anti-China protests that have dogged the flame's run this week in London, Paris and San Francisco.

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So far, activists have announced only one, peaceful demonstration in support of independence for Tibet and against the human rights record of Olympic host China during the torch's planned 13-kilometer (eight-mile) relay through the Argentine capital.

But city officials here are taking no chances, and are vowing to closely guard the torch on Thursday and while it is passed along a relay team of national athletes on Friday.