Japan temple withdraws from torch route

Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:56am EDT
 
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said Japan wanted to ensure security and prevent confusion for the Japanese leg, although he added that police at home would not need help from China.

A Nagano official said on Thursday that there would be no security role in Japan for Chinese paramilitary guards who have been criticized elsewhere for their perceived heavy-handed approach to managing the torch's progress.

On Friday, a Japanese lawmaker told visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi that he hoped China would heed international attention on its "domestic political affairs" to make the Olympics a success, but Yang avoided commenting on issue. (Additional reporting by Linda Sieg; Editing by David Fogarty)

 
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