Australia hosts torch relay

Runners bearing the Olympic torch were cheered by thousands of people waving Chinese flags today during a 10-mile relay through this capital, unimpeded by sporadic anti-China protests that led to several arrests.

The event began as half a dozen officers in jogging pants, T-shirts and caps formed a loose cordon around the runner. Other officers stood at crowd-control barriers.

Overhead, an airplane sky writer wrote the words “Free Tibet” in white.

An hour into the relay, a man leaped out from the crowd and sat cross-legged about 35 feet in front of the runner. Police quickly hauled him away and the runner didn’t stop.