Clashes between China supporters and Free Tibet protestors have injured 4 people as the Olympic torch visited Japan.

Protesters opposed to Beijing’s rule in Tibet have clashed with Chinese supporters during the Japan leg of the Olympic torch relay, but failed to disrupt the flame’s journey.

At least four people were injured in the clashes in the city of Nagano on Saturday, while two men were arrested as they tried to grab the torch, witnesses said.

Large crowds of Chinese students competed for attention with the pro-Tibet demostrators, waving red flags and signs such as “One World, One Dream, One China”.

Japan was keen to avoid the chaotic scenes at some of the relay venues ahead of next month’s arrival of Hu Jintao, China’s president.

Police guards in tracksuits surrounded the first runner, the manager of Japan’s national baseball team, and another 100 uniformed riot police ran alongside six patrol cars and two police lead motorcycles.

The starting point, which was in a car park after a Buddhist temple withdrew in a protest at China’s crackdown in Tibet, was closed to the public, as were all the rest stops.

Via Aljazeera

(Hopefully, citing Aljazeera will save me from deciding whether to use CNN / BBC or China Daily / Xinhua, and receiving nasty comments from fans of the opposite side.)