by Maja Gojkovic 

The olympic torch has been re-lit at a special ceremony in Beijing after arriving from Athens.The Chinese President Hu Jintao opened the special ceremony which took place in Tiananmen Square in order welcome the torch to the city, which will host the 2008 Olympics in August.

Throughout the event tight security was visible at the square, amid concerns of a possible anti-government protests due to last weeks protesters who opposed China’s actions in Tibet. The Protesters clashed with police at the lighting ceremony in Greece. Secutrity was also tight in the centre of the city with the closure of the underground station Tiananmen Square and the closure of the square to all veichles.

Hundreds of people, many including schoolchildren turned out at Beijing airport, waving flags as the Air China plane arrived and the torch was revealed. Students and workers sang the Olympic slogan “One World, One Dream” and waved pom-poms.

Sunday’s formal handover was held in the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896.

The Chinese and Greek flags were marched in by Greek athletes to the strains of a band, before a circle of white-clad actresses dressed as ancient priestesses surrounded a podium as the torch was brought in. Minos Kyriakou, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, passed the flame to chief Beijing organizer Liu Qi.

Protesters tried to unfurl a banner which said “Stop genocide in Tibet”, but failed to enter the stadium or disrupt the solemn ceremony. At least six people were arrested and Police warned they would confiscate all banners, signs or objects that might be thrown.

On Tuesday, the torch goes to Almaty in Kazakhstan, its next stop on a tour of 20 countries before returning for the opening of the Beijing games on 8 August.