Beijing tightened security on Sunday ahead of the Olympic torch's arrival after police in Athens scuffled with pro-Tibet protesters who tried to disrupt the final leg of the flame's week-long relay through Greece.

Journalists in Beijing were told to collect their accreditation in person a day early, rather than at Monday's ceremony to welcome the torch in Tiananmen Square in the heart of China's capital.

Police hold a pro-Tibet protester outside the Panathenian Stadium where the Olympic flame handover ceremony was held for the Beijing Olympics.
(Yiannis Petridis/Associated Press)

There was an increased security presence in the square on Sunday, with its northern portion cordoned off.

The formal handover of the torch to organizers of the Beijing Olympics took place at Athens' marble Panathenian Stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896. Outside, at least 10 demonstrators were detained after they tried to breach a police cordon.
 
Greece's Olympic silver medal triple-jumper Chrysopigi Devetzi carried the torch into the stadium lined with Greek and Chinese flags. Greek presidential guards and actresses dressed as ancient priestesses looked on.

The torch was to arrive early in the Chinese capital on Monday aboard an Air China flight. It will then travel through 20 countries for about a month before returning to mainland China, where the relay will continue until the torch arrives in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Games on Aug. 8.

Pro-Tibet groups are expected to stage protests along the international torch route and have already announced a demonstration in London on April 6 to coincide with the official relay there.

A number of demonstrations by various groups, including those protesting China's human rights record, have been held in Greece.

On Saturday, anti-globalization protesters, chanting "the Olympics means construction and steroids," formed one of three small demonstrations as the flame left the Acropolis.

 

With files from the Associated Press