Harrying the torch

San Francisco police expressed mounting concern about their ability to provide safe passage for the Olympic torch relay after swarms of activists protesting China's human rights record shut down the event in Paris on Monday, forcing officials to repeatedly snuff out the iconic flame.

Traditionally a celebratory show that whets the appetite for the Olympics, the torch relay this year has turned into a rolling -- and intensifying -- confrontation over the Chinese government's religious and political persecution. The superpower's recent actions in Tibet have been a particular focus.

Authorities in San Francisco, which on Wednesday will host the only North American leg of the relay, said they had closely watched events in London on Sunday and in Paris.

"We have a lot of concerns," said Sgt. Neville Gittens, a San Francisco police spokesman. "I don't want to identify them, but this is not a contained route security-wise, and there are lots of opportunities for trouble. We're watching what's going on very closely and will make changes to our plans as we figure them out."

Mayor Gavin Newsom met with Chinese officials in San Francisco on Monday to review security measures, which include requiring all rank-and-file police officers to report to work Wednesday. Meanwhile, at least two neighboring police departments have been asked to provide reinforcements, the California Highway Patrol will be on hand and the FBI is on standby, officials said.

In the Bay Area, the protest against China's recent violent crackdown in Tibet began long before the torch's arrival. Three activists climbed the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday morning to unfurl pro-Tibetan banners.

The Chinese government Tuesday condemned the demonstrations as the work of a small number of Tibetan separatists.

"Their despicable activities tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit and challenge all the people loving the Olympic games around the world," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement on the ministry's website.

Chinese censors obstructed foreign TV broadcasts on the Paris protests, blacking out BBC reports. Meanwhile, China's domestic media trumpeted the success of the torch relay.

"French passion greets torch in Paris," declared a front-page headline in Tuesday's China Daily.