Human rights demonstrators breached tight security and tried to hijack the Beijing Olympic torch lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, Greece on Monday. Just before the torch was lit, three demonstrators managed to break a tight police cordon. Police arrested nine protesters, including members of Reporters Without Borders and Students for a Free Tibet.
Tibetan activist Tenzin Dorjee spoke to reporters as he was being dragged away.

Tenzin Dorjee: “No torch through Tibet. Shame on China. Shame on China. Don’t bring China’s blood-tainted torch to Tibet. Free Tibet. Tibet is an independent country. China is the oppressor. The Chinese government has no shame, and the Chinese government is oppressing me even in a free country. The Chinese government is spreading its oppression and dictatorship like cancer around the world.”

The globally televised ceremony launched a five-month torch relay that culminates with the opening of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.