North Korea fetes torch with mass rally

The Olympic torch was paraded through the streets of Pyongyang to flag-waving masses on Monday with North Korea promising its main benefactor China an "astonishing" show certain to be free of protest.

The torch began its two-day journey on the divided Korean peninsula on Sunday where a frenetic and at times violent pro-Beijing rally in the South Korean capital by thousands of flag-waving Chinese students left many Seoul residents angry.

The global torch relay ahead of the Beijing Games in August has prompted protests against China's rights record in Tibet as well as patriotic rallies by Chinese who criticise the West for vilifying Beijing.

China has blamed the Dalai Lama for stirring up the unrest and accused him and his government in exile in India of trying to spoil the Games in August, charges the Tibetan spiritual leader denies.

In Stalinist North Korea, the relay proceeded trouble-free. Tens of thousands lined Pyongyang's streets, waved North Korean and Chinese flags and enthusiastically cheered the torch, which is making its first journey to the hermit kingdom, the South's Yonhap news agency said, citing news reports.

North Korea, which the United States and others say has one of world's the worst human rights records, does not allow rallies that anger Pyongyang's leaders. Rights groups said the North imprisons or executes anyone who steps out of line.

A LIGHT IN THE HERMIT KINGDOM

The isolated North, which rarely holds international events, has told China it is proud to host the relay.

Its media said the 80 torch bearers included one of the heroes from its 1966 soccer World Cup team who scored a winning goal against Italy and a women's marathon champion.

The torch will wind its way along a route that passes monuments celebrating the North's founder Kim Il-sung, his son and current ruler Kim Jong-il, and the ideology behind Asia's only communist dynasty.

China's Xinhua news agency quoted a North Korean official as saying the torch relay will "astonish the world".

When North Korea hosts an honoured state visitor, it sends hundreds of thousands of its citizens into the streets of Pyongyang. Dressed in their finest clothes, they wave bouquets of pink and purple plastic flowers and cheer on cue when the guest passes by.

In South Korea, newspapers on Monday were critical of the violence carried out by a few of the Chinese students during the torch's visit. For the most part, their rallies were peaceful.

Thousands of Chinese students were bussed in from all parts of South Korea, provided with flags, T-shirts and banners as they shouted pro-Chinese slogans as the torch made its way through Seoul, while many South Koreans turned away.

Two Chinese were arrested on suspicion of throwing rocks at South Koreans protesting against Chinese treatment of Tibetans and North Koreans fleeing their homes for sanctuary. More than 8,000 police guarded the flame on its journey.

Internet message boards in one of the world's most wired countries were flooded with comments saying the pro-Beijing display was in bad taste that did little to transmit any message of peace and soured the appetite for the Olympics.

"Kick all the Chinese out of this country," read one message. Another said "China has no right to host the Games."

The torch next goes to Vietnam and then Hong Kong.