China to carry Olympic Games torch into Tibet

New Delhi: Beijing officials have confirmed that the Olympic torch will be carried into Tibet to mark the start of this year's Games.

This decision came even though Tibetans protestors have been demanding that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) call off the torch relay through Tibet.

Recent anti-government riots in the Tibet capital of Lhasa had led to calls for the route to be changed.

Activists have also criticised the Olympic torch's climb up Mount Everest.

The climbers would take the Olympic flame to Mount Everest's 8 850-metre summit in May.

Officials in Beijing said that local police and governments would provide security to the torch relay.

The protests have also called attention to a possible boycott of the Olympics opening ceremony in August.

Earlier IOC President Jacques Rogge reassured of nothing untoward happening in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics.

Around 600 people had protested outside the IOC headquarters in Laussane on Tuesday against China's crackdown in Tibet.

The group demanded that the IOC call off the torch relay through Tibet.

"Stop killing in Tibet," a banner read. "Mister Rogge, your silence kills Tibetans," said another, referring to the sports body's president, Jacques Rogge.

The demonstrators were mostly members of the Tibetan community in Switzerland with four Tibetan athletes also participating in the protests.

The IOC has already issued a statement saying it respected the right of the protesters to demonstrate but the IOC is a sports organisation and is not in a position to pressure China or any other countries on political matters.