The Olympic torch relay started in Paris, the fifth leg of its global journey on Monday.

The Beijing Olympic torch relay resumed on ground at around 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) on Monday after the torch was twice put onto bus earlier for technical reasons, a Xinhua photographer following the torch relay witnessed.
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The Olympic torch relay started in Paris, the fifth leg of its global journey on Monday.

The torch was first put on a bus shortly after its start from the starting point, the Eiffel Tower, and the second time was around 1: 30 p.m. (1130 GMT).

Earlier, a member from the French Greens Party had attempted to snatch the torch from former world 400 meters hurdles champion Stephane Diagana, the first torchbearer, but was stopped by policemen.

Around 3,000 French policemen have been deployed to protect the28-km Olympic torch relay in Paris, which started shortly after midday and is expected to conclude at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) at Stade Charlety in the south of Paris.

Spokesman of the torch relay center of the Beijing Olympic Organization Committee Qu Yingpu said that the torch relay started in Paris smoothly, but has encountered protests during the process. Due to safety reasons, the relay team had to extinguish the flame twice and put the torch onto the bus before the relay was resumed towards the south of Paris.

Police have arrested at least five protesters who tried to interrupt the torch relay.

A member of French Olympic Committee said here Monday that the Olympic torch relay should not be affected in any way.

"The Olympic sacred fire is a symbol of peace, tolerance... and should not be affected by anybody in any way," Guy Drut told France 3 television.

On Sunday, a spokesman from the torch relay center of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee said that as the highest symbol of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic flame represents peace, friendship and progress. Under the authorization of the International Olympic Committee, the Beijing Olympic torch relay is taking its journey of harmony throughout the world, sharing the passion and glory of the Olympics with the world, and has received warm welcome from the people en route.

The Olympic torch relay started in Paris, the fifth leg of its global journey on Monday.

Chinese traditional lion dance performed under Eiffel Tower on Monday.

However, a few "pro-Tibet independence" activists have attempted to interrupt the torch relay during its journey in grave violation of the Olympic spirit, as the Olympic flame belongs to the world. The act will surely arouse the resentment of the peace-loving people, and is bound to fail, the spokesman said.

The Beijing Olympic torch relay takes place on Monday in Paris, the fifth leg of its global tour. The Paris leg relay will follow a 28- kilometer route which begins at Eiffel Tower and ends at Stade Charlety in the south of Paris.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2008)