China drops torch amid protest fears

Last Modified: 03 Apr 2008
By: John Sparks

China's ambassador to Britain has pulled out of Sunday's Olympic torch relay in London and so has the comedian Francesca Martinez live on Channel 4 News.

The move follows pro-Tibet protests at similar events in other parts of the world.

Fu Ying had been due to carry the torch, which will be welcomed by Gordon Brown at Downing Street.

China, which is hosting this summer's Olympic Games, is also under pressure over the jailing of dissident Hu Jia, a campaigner on Tibet, climate change, religious freedom and AIDS.

His jailing prompted Amnesty International to accuse China of a "wave of repression" ahead of the Games.