CANBERRA, April 23: Police began an unprecedented security crackdown in Australia’s national capital on Wednesday to protect the Olympic flame from protests during the latest leg of the torch’s troubled journey around the world.

China had hoped the torch’s progress would be a symbol of unity in the run-up to the Beijing Games.

But at several previous relays, the flame has drawn anti-China protests over human rights and Beijing’s crackdown in Tibet, as well as pro-China demonstrations.—Reuters