Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Reports of extinguished flame not true

(PARIS, April 8) -- Reports by foreign news agencies that the Beijing Olympic torch was extinguished by force during the relay in Paris are not true, Jiang Yu, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, said on April 8, reported Xinhua Net.

"To protect the safety and sanctity of the torch, and with consideration to the actual circumstances at the scene, the mode of transportation for the torch was temporarily altered during the relay," he said.

"The torch has now safely completed the relay in Paris according to plan," he added.