CANBERRA—Australian authorities remain at loggerheads with Chinese Olympic officials over the security role of the Beijing flame attendants ahead of the torch relay in Canberra tomorrow.
Police tonight prepared to lock down the capital ahead of the expected arrival of thousands of pro-Tibet and pro-China supporters for tomorrow's relay, which will take place under tight security because of feared protests.
The Olympic flame was tonight being held at a secret location in Canberra - probably the Chinese embassy - after arriving by plane this morning from Jakarta.
Sports figures such as Ian Thorpe have appealed for protesters to treat the Games torch with respect during its shortened 16km route around Canberra tomorrow, which includes a voyage across Lake Burley Griffin.
But protests began today with two arrests in Sydney, the unfurling of a pro-Tibet banner in Sydney's Kings Cross, and a peaceful candlelight vigil tonight outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra, involving about 150 pro-Tibet supporters.
Confusion has surrounded the role of the tracksuit-clad attendants accompanying the torch, despite Prime Minister Kevin Rudd saying they should only be there to re-light the flame if it is extinguished, and not act as security.
But today a senior Beijing Games official said the flame attendants were trained to "respond to an immediate threat against the flame or torch bearer".
Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) official Qu Yingpu made the comments at a joint press conference with Australian torch relay authorities, who were forced to contradict his position.
Reading from an Olympic manual, Mr Yingpu said the attendants are "trained security personnel with the ability to cover and evacuate the torch bearers in the case of an emergency".
ACT Chief Police Officer Michael Phelan and ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope told the Chinese in no uncertain terms that the flame attendants were expected to remain on the sidelines if any incidents occurred.
"All security in relation to the torch will be provided by AFP officers on the ground," Mr Phelan said.
He said the level of security around each torchbearer would be dictated by the circumstances at that particular point in time.
"Should the flame be under any sort of stress, or threat, we will be the ones to secure that flame, and make sure it's delivered properly back to the torch protectors."
Mr Stanhope went further, saying the flame attendants would be subject to the laws of the land if they became involved in any altercations.
"And of course, ACT policing can use their discretion under the law to respond to that particular incident."
Mr Stanhope said the written remarks Mr Yingpu had referred to had come from an early document which had not been endorsed by either the Commonwealth Government, the ACT Government or ACT police.
Nonetheless, police are preparing for the worst, with about 500 officers expected to be patrolling the streets of Canberra, aided by special powers of search and seizure.
Pro-Tibet activists have tried to allay authorities' fears, saying they will protest loudly, but will not physically interfere with the torch relay.
"We are planning to protest. We will be at the Reconciliation Place, at the Parliament House and at a few different locations along the route," Tibetans in Australia spokeswoman Tsering Deki said.
"We are going to be loud and protest but they will definitely be peaceful," she told the Nine Network.
Swimming great Ian Thorpe, who will be the final torchbearer in Canberra tomorrow, appealed to protesters, saying:"I hope it's a peaceful protest and (there's) respect that this is the Olympic flame and it stands for a lot more than just the situation in China."
In a sign of things to come, pro-Tibet activists made their mark in Sydney today in the debate over human rights abuses in China.
Police were tonight questioning four people after a banner protesting human rights abuses in Tibet was unfurled over the iconic Coke sign in Sydney's Kings Cross.
The protesters unveiled a banner saying: "Enjoy compassion, always Tibet" written in the same style of script as the Coca-Cola brand.
Early this morning, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was targeted with the message "Don't Torch Tibet", projected on to a bridge pylon, while two protesters were arrested when police thwarted an attempt to hang a banner off the landmark.
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