China hits back after Bush criticism

China has hit back at criticism by US President George W Bush on religion and human rights in the country, saying it opposed any interference in its internal affairs.

'We firmly oppose any words and deeds that use human rights and religion to interfere in other countries' internal affairs,' foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement on the ministry's website.

The statement was in response to a speech by Mr Bush in which he repeatedly highlighted Washington's deep concerns over religious freedom and human rights in China.

Mr Bush arrived in Beijing this afternoon to attend tomorrow's opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

'The Chinese people enjoy religious freedom according to law. That's a basic fact evident to all,' Mr Qin said.

'With regards to differences between China and the United States on rights and religious issues, we have always advocated that the two sides should carry out dialogue and exchanges on the basis of equality and mutual respect.'

Speaking in Bangkok before travelling to Beijing, Mr Bush said the US would continue to press for changes in China.

While he praised China's economy, Mr Bush said the country would only reach its full potential by respecting human rights.

'The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings,' Mr Bush said in comments likely to anger China's communist leadership.

'We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly, and labour rights - not to antagonise China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential,' he said.

Beijing has been accused of cracking down on dissent ahead of the Games instead of granting more freedoms, as originally promised.

Mr Bush had faced criticism from rights groups not only for attending the Games but also for not speaking out more forcefully against Beijing's crackdown in the run-up to the showpiece event.

Olympic relay passes Great Wall

Meanwhile, one of the last relays of the Olympic torch took place this morning.

Its passage along the Badaling section of the Great Wall was cheered by hundreds of volunteers dressed in yellow, with a giant Chinese dragon model paraded above a beacon tower.

'This section is pretty steep, but all these people cheered us on, they are so enthusiastic, we were all very excited, so we did not feel tired,' said Yi Na, a torchbearer and literature student at People's University.

Many of the spectacular landscape views that the Great Wall offers were obscured by a thick haze that also descended on Beijing's city centre and near the Olympic venues.

But the poor visibility, which has stoked fears Beijing's notorious pollution could harm athletes' performance, did not dampen the enthusiasm of many who saw the relay.

A total of 268 torchbearers would carry the flame on a 14.6km route in about three hours.

'I feel very proud that I could take part in this event, I'm very happy, I hope the Games are a great success for Beijing, Go Olympics, Go China,' Zhao Hongfei, a student volunteer, told AFP.

The first torchbearer was pilot Li Zhonghua, who began his leg after midnight Irish time.

The torch relay was greeted by huge crowds when it began its journey through the capital yesterday, where it was carried by basketball star Yao Ming and pioneer astronaut Yang Liwei.

The final stages in Beijing mark an end to the most ambitious and controversial torch relay in Olympic history, after protests dogged its global journey and the domestic leg was overshadowed by the Sichuan earthquake.

Protestors leave

It is reported that four pro-Tibet campaigners have left Beijing after staging a protest near the Olympic stadium yesterday.

The two Britons and two US citizens were arrested after unfurling banners calling for a free Tibet.

Their campaign group, Students for a Free Tibet, said their visas were cut short and they were put on a flight to Frankfurt.