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Musharraf condemns west for anti-China protests
2008-04-15

BEIJING (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Monday condemned protests that have marred the Beijing Olympic torch relay and vowed to maintain security when the flame arrives in his country this week.

"We have taken all measures to ensure its security," Musharraf told students following a speech atBeijing's Tsinghua University. 

"There is no one inPakistan, not one man, who would like to do anything against the interests of China."

The Olympic torch relay arrives inIslamabad on Wednesday, the first stop in the Asian leg of its world tour.

The relay's European and US legs were marred last week by protests inLondon, Paris and San Francisco, directed mainly against China's ongoing crackdown on violent unrest in Tibet.

Officials inPakistan, a close ally of China's, have vowed security worthy of a head of state.

"This will be the first ever Olympics torch relay inPakistan," sports ministry spokesman Fasihullah Khan said. 

"Police will maintain tough security."

Musharraf reiterated his position thatTibet was a part of China and an internal affair that should be handled by Beijing, free of foreign interference.

"As far as some of the actions around the world, in parts of the world, we condemn it strongly because we think that politics should be kept out of sports," Musharraf said.

China is one of Pakistan's closest allies and its largest arms supplier.

Musharraf held talks with top Chinese leaders during his visit, including meetings with President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

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