China: No halt to torch relay

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Beijing insisted Tuesday that the international Olympic torch relay would go on, despite calls to cut it short amid chaotic anti-China protests.

Chinese officials on Tuesday issued a "strong condemnation to the deliberate disruption" by the pro-Tibet protesters along the relay route in London and Paris, but they said while their "despicable activities" may "tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit," the tour will not be stopped.

The reaction from China came as International Olympic Committee members were meeting in Beijing to discuss the growing discord over the international leg of the Olympic torch relay.

As the Olympic torch flew to San Francisco on Tuesday, a member of the IOC said protests that disrupted the Olympic torch relay in London and Paris may make 2008 the last time such an ambitious global torch relay is attempted.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said the organization's executive board will take up the topic of the torch relay "in general" on Thursday or Friday, but there is no proposal on the agenda to end the global tour early.

Anti-Chinese protesters interrupted the relay in London and Paris. Police already have arrested protesters in the torch's next destination -- San Francisco -- even though the relay is not scheduled to begin there until Wednesday.

Kevan Gosper, a member of the International Olympic Committee and chairman of its press commission, suggested that the public relations nightmare that has followed the Olympic flame may make 2008 the last year for a global torch relay. Look at a map of the international torch relay route »

"I'm a firm believer that we had the right template in the first place, that the torch simply should go from Olympia, Greece to the host country," he said. "I would expect that the Olympic committee will review that template."

Earlier on Tuesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu described as "despicable" attempts by protesters in London and Paris to disrupt the torch relay, Xinhua news agency reported.

She said the relay would press on despite protests and demonstrations, Xinhua reported.

"We express our strong condemnation to the deliberate disruption of the Olympic torch relay by 'Tibetan independence' separatist forces regardless of the Olympic spirit and the law of Britain and France," Jiang said, according to Xinhua. Watch reaction from inside China about the torch relay protests »

"Their despicable activities tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit and challenge all the people loving the Olympic Games around the world," Xinhua reported.

In San Francisco, where the torch is due to arrive Wednesday, three protesters wearing harnesses and helmets climbed up the Golden Gate Bridge and tied the Tibetan flag and two banners to its cables.

The banners read "One World One Dream. Free Tibet" and "Free Tibet." The protesters later climbed down.

In all, seven people were charged with conspiracy and causing a public nuisance. The climbers also were charged with misdemeanor trespassing.

The last part of the Olympic torch relay in Paris was canceled Monday after a day of chaos in France in which anti-China protesters forced authorities to extinguish the flame at least five times, take to a bus and skip some scheduled stops, including city hall.

There were confrontations between the authorities and demonstrators throughout the day as the relay attempted to crisscross Paris, birthplace of the modern Olympic movement, passing landmarks including l'Arc d'Triomphe, the Place de la Concord, The Louvre and Notre Dame.

The torch was eventually driven by bus to its ending destination, where it was displayed again during a public ceremony at a stadium. Look at photos of the torch relay in Paris »

Numerous protesters, some armed with fire extinguishers, were taken away by police, The Associated Press reported. At other times police used tear gas to remove demonstrators who lay in the road and tried to block the route.

The chaos came one day after human rights activist demonstrators made the torch's journey through London more like running the gauntlet than a journey of celebration, as UK police made more than two dozen arrests.

On Monday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said all options remained open for Paris concerning a possible boycott of the opening of the Beijing Olympics, AP reported.

Some demonstrators threw themselves at the torch, and at least one tried to snatch it away during the 48-kilometer (31-mile) relay. Another tried to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher. They were quickly pushed back and cuffed by Metropolitan Police, which said its officers made 36 arrests on a variety of charges.

Beijing Olympic spokesman condemned "attempts to sabotage" the London relay, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency. The official was not named in the article.

China has come under international criticism because of its crackdown last month on protesters calling for democratic freedoms and self-rule in Tibet and neighboring Chinese provinces.

Chinese authorities have denied those allegations and have accused the Dalai Lama of instigating violence among his followers -- an allegation he rejects. U.S. and other Western leaders have called on China to provide civil rights and freedoms to those in Tibet and to enter peaceful discussions aimed at resolving the crisis. E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

All About Summer Olympics • Tibet • China