BEIJING: The Beijing Olympics flame was extinguished four times in Paris as anti-China protesters disrupted its relay run chanting 'Tibet', forcing officials to bring it on board a bus. The French protests come after 37 people were arrested during pro-Tibet protests which disrupted relay in London.

French police scuffled with campaigners protesting China's crackdown in Tibet and at least four people were arrested as they attempted to block the torch's planned relay route through Paris.

The flame, protected by some 3,000 police riding motorcycles, jogging or on skates, began its journey from the Eiffel Tower, with former French athlete Stephane Diagana leading off the proposed relay of 80 runners chosen to carry it through the Paris streets.

Despite massive security, at least two activists got within almost an arm's length of the flame before they were grabbed by police. A protester threw water at the torch but failed to extinguish it and was taken away, AP reported. The procession continued but soon afterward a crowd of activists waving Tibetan flags interrupted it by confronting the torchbearer on a road along the Seine River.

The demonstrators did not appear to get within reach of the torch, but its flame was put out by security officers and put on board a bus to continue part way along the route. The Dalai Lama has urged Tibetan exiles not to disrupt events leading up to the Games, starting on August 8. Earlier, IOC president, Jacques Rogge, expressed concern over unrest in Tibet and the torch protests.

"The International Olympic Committee has expressed its serious concern and called for a rapid, peaceful resolution of Tibet," Rogge said at a three-day meeting of National Olympic Committee heads held in Beijing. "Violence for whatever reason is not compatible with the values of the torch relay or the Olympic Games," Rogge said four months ahead of the world's most prestigious sporting event.

China has faced international criticism over its crackdown on the largest anti-government protests in Tibet since 1989 that began on March 10 and spread to other areas of China with Tibetan populations. U.S. President George W Bush and other Western leaders have asked China to open talks with the Dalai Lama. Exiled Tibetans say over 150 people have been killed in the unrest, triggered by what Tibetans say has been nearly 60 years of repression under Chinese rule. China insists its security forces have killed no one while trying to quell the protests. However it says Tibetan "rioters" have killed 20 people.

The torch's global tour is the longest in Olympic history and is meant to highlight China's growing economic and political power. The torch relay is expected to face more demonstrations in Paris, San Francisco and possibly elsewhere during its 21-stop, six-continent tour before reaching mainland China on May 4. Meanwhile, China's top official in Tibet has insisted that the Beijing Olympics torch relay will pass through the Himalayan region as planned by the government.

Zhang Qingli, the Communist Party Secretary in Tibet, said that Beijing will not listen to the demands of demonstrators calling for the route to be changed. Zhang said Tibet was determined to play its part in a successful Olympics by hosting the torch relay on June 19 and 20 and the flame's ascent of Mount Everest in May.