The Olympic flame has arrived in London amid controversy following recent trouble in Tibet and what is seen as a harsh crackdown by Chinese authorities [BBC]. The Metropolitan Police have put a huge security operation into action to prevent any protest groups from attacking the procession which starts tomorrow at Wembley Stadium. Eighty torch bearers will carry the Olympic torch on its 50 km journey. As the plane carrying the flame made its way to Britain there were further reports in some newspapers suggesting more people had been killed in unrest in China's Sichuan province. The Guardian reported that eight Tibetans may have been killed when paramilitary police opened fire during protests. Tibetan support groups say the protesters were gunned down in the Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture when police used automatic weapons on the crowds on Thursday evening.
China's state media, Xinhua News, said a confrontation had taken place in the mountainous region neighbouring Tibet, but reported that police fired only warning shots to protect officials. As well as a front page lead in the Guardian, the story also dominated the front page of The Times in London. The torch will receive a very frosty reception in more ways than one as much of Britain is expected to be hit by snowfall on Sunday.
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