Chinese netizens condemned attempts to disrupt the ongoing Olympic torch relay by Tibetan separatists in London after British police arrested 25 people on Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands of online posters on major Chinese Internet portal websites such as Sina.com.cn, People.com.cn and Xinhuanet.com, expressed indignation at the attempt, saying the evil nature of Tibetan separatists was clearly exposed to the world but their attempt could never stop the relay.

According to police, the people were arrested for public disorder offences. One tried to grab the torch from a relay participant, but he was immediately pushed down to the ground and taken away. Another two were detained for their attempt to disrupt the relay with a fire extinguisher.

London welcomed the Olympic Flame on Sunday as part of the global Olympic Torch Relay in the run-up to the August Beijing Olympic Games. As a grand festival in London, tens of thousands lined the route to cheer the event, far outnumbering protesters.

Many netizens said the Olympic flame, representing the sublime Olympic spirit, symbolized a global dream of excellence, friendship and respect. "The torch relay, which showed an agreement to these universal values, should be supported by all. Any sabotage attempt violates the Olympic spirit and defies world peace," wrote one.

Netizen "1235" said the acts of Tibetan separatists fully showed the real nature of "love for peace" claimed by the Dalai clique. "Their move makes others easier to see through their hidden motive."

Another said the disruption attempt did no harm to the Beijing Olympic Games but "offered a lively lesson to Westerners that harbored hostility towards China on the handling of last month's Lhasa riot".

The netizen said each coin had two sides and the unpleasant incident that occurred in the relay strengthened the world's determination in jointly clamping down on Tibetan separatists.

The 2008 Olympic flame was ignited on March 24 in Olympia, Greece, and was handed over to Beijing on March 31 after a six-day relay in that country.

The 130 day torch relay will cover 137,000 kilometers before the flame returns to Beijing and enters the National Stadium on Aug. 8 for the Olympics' opening ceremony.

A total of 21,880 torch bearers will participate in the unprecedented relay, which is held under the theme of "Journey of Harmony".

"The torch belongs to both China and the world. Any disruption attempt would face world condemnation," said a netizen.

"Why don't they let us joyfully watch an Olympic party of our own when the developing China hopes to show itself on such a world stage," he asked.

"Dalai Clique, please don't hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and don't sabotage a world sports party the Chinese people have dreamed for long," a netizen wrote.

"Although China is currently under various trials and hosting the Olympic Games has met various difficulties, the country is developing fast. We firmly believe the Beijing Olympics will be a great sports party for the whole of mankind," he wrote.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2008)