Torch faces S Korea protests, festivities in North

Protests and scuffles greeted the Olympic flame as it began a two-day journey on the divided Korean peninsula along a route guarded by thousands of riot policeman wielding shields and truncheons.

Thousands of Chinese wrapped in their country's flag shouted, "Come on China", "No politics, only Olympics" at the start of the torch relay in Seoul where they greatly outnumbered South Koreans protesting Beijing's human rights record.

At one point, the two groups clashed with Chinese students kicking an elderly South Korean protester and hurling rocks at a group that raised banners chastising Beijing.

The torch relay in South Korea began at a park used for the 1988 Seoul Olympics and followed a 22-km route kept secret until the last minute.

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

"The torch relay is being used for anti-Chinese protests. This has provoked a lot of anger inside China and caused people like myself to come out here to defend our country," said Chinese student Yang Hui.

Protests have disrupted the global torch relay and by far the biggest issue has been criticism of China's recent crackdown in Tibet after deadly riots there and in surrounding areas.

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.

Several Western countries, including the United States, have urged China to resume talks with aides of the Dalai Lama and on Friday Beijing abruptly announced that it intended to meet his aides in the next few days.

But the government has kept up its attacks on the Dalai.

China on Sunday poured scorn on the Tibetan leader and hailed protesters against Tibetan self-rule as patriotic heroes, suggesting the government will not give ground in talks.

"The Dalai clique has always been masters at games with words and the ideas that they have tossed about truly make the head spin," the People's Daily, the top paper of the ruling Communist Party. - Reuters