Olympic flame passes through Tibet

The latest leg of the Olympic torch relay was held in Tibet's capital of Lhasa at the weekend under tight security.

The relay began at the exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama's former summer palace, Norbulingka, and ended at the hilltop Potala Palace - the traditional seat of Tibetan rulers.

Hand-picked spectators cheered runners as they carried the torch through the sealed-off city, while police and soldiers lined the relay route to prevent any unrest.

The torch run has been marred during its international tour by protests over China's policies in Tibet.

On Friday, China said it had released more than one thousand people held for alleged involvement in the anti-government riots in Lhasa. The official Xinhua news agency said 12 others were sentenced this week for their role in the protests.

In April, authorities handed down punishments to 30 people for several charges, including arson and robbery, committed during the unrest.