Chinese Olympic officials 'thugs'
Updated on 07 April 2008
Lord Coe, the man overseeing London's 2012 Olympics, privately describes some of the track-suited Chinese officials who are guarding Beijing's Olympic Torch on its worldwide relay as "thugs".
His comments came after the chaotic scenes as protesters repeatedly tried to disrupt its journey through London. And it didn't get any better when the Torch arrived in Paris today.
Pro Tibetan demonstrators caused problems almost as soon as it set off from the Eiffel Tower, the flame had to be extinguished three times by officials and it finished its journey by bus.
Speaking on a visit to Beijing the President of the International Olympic Committee also expressed his "serious concern" about the recent violence in Tibet.
