ATHENS, Greece — Torchbearers carried the Olympic flame through the crowded streets of Athens to the Acropolis on Saturday amid heavy security and demonstrations by small groups of protesters.
At the foot of the Acropolis, a pro-Tibet group unfurled a banner reading “Free Tibet 2008” and lit candles to protest China’s deadly crackdown there.
“We don’t want the torch relay to pass through Tibet,” said one protester who identified herself only as Klara.
Earlier, police scuffled with anti-globalization demonstrators shortly after the torch relay entered the city. The relay was not disrupted by either protest, and no arrests were reported.
More than 2,000 police officers were deployed in Athens for the relay. A helicopter flew overhead, and about a dozen plainclothes officers on motorcycles flanked the torchbearers.
The torch will be given to Beijing officials today at the stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
