The Olympic torch made its way through Canberra on Thursday, with only pockets of protest marring one of the final legs of the flame's beleaguered journey around the globe to Beijing.

Joining the protest in the Australian capital was Canadian singer k.d. lang.

Former swimmer Ian Thorpe lights a cauldron to conclude the Australian leg of the troubled Olympic torch relay in Canberra on Thursday.
(Rob Griffith/Associated Press)

Although seven people were arrested, organizers expressed satisfaction with the torch event.

"It was an outstanding success," John Stanhope, chief minister of the Australian Capital Territory, told a news conference.

The closest any protester got to the flame was a man who leapt into the relay's path and sat cross-legged about 10 metres in front of the torch runner.

He was quickly dragged off by police dressed in running pants, T-shirts and caps who flanked the runners.

Away from the route, scuffles were also reported outside Australia's Parliament House, between Chinese supporters and Tibetan protesters. At least seven people were arrested throughout the day, police said.

Olympic torch relays around the world have been marred by protests and confrontation as activists use the events as a platform to demand autonomy for Tibet and an end to the crackdown by Chinese officials that began there last month.

Lang, who is on tour in Australia, told Reuters that she felt an obligation to join the demonstration.

"Tibet is a global heritage. It's something we want to protect, it's something that enriches the entire universe," she said.

At one point during the relay, an airplane sky writer wrote the words "Free Tibet" in giant white letters, the Associated Press reported.

China supporters outnumber protesters

Thousands of supporters of the Chinese Games drowned out protests by about 500 pro-Tibetan activists demonstrating against China's actions in the region.

"We didn't expect this reaction from the Chinese community, which is obviously a well-co-ordinated plan to take the day by weight of numbers," Ted Quinlan, the chief organizer of the Australia relay, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Chinese student groups organized bus trips from Sydney and other cities for those wanting to support the relay.

An estimated 10,000 people attended the relay, mostly supporters of China, officials said.

"We obviously feared the worst having seen incidents in the other cities around the world," local government spokesman Jeremy Lasek told Sky News television. "We feel right now relieved but elated. We think we've pulled it off."

Officials considered shortening the route to avoid Parliament House and the Chinese Embassy, but later decided to have the 80 runners take the full 16-kilometre route.

Security arrangements surpassed the level of protection provided to U.S. President George W. Bush during a visit in 2003, local officials told Reuters.

The relay began with an aboriginal smoking ceremony and a rendition of the Australian national anthem to welcome the torch.

Nearly three hours after the start, five-time gold medal winner Ian Thorpe completed the final leg by lighting a ceremonial cauldron.

The flame now heads to Nagano, Japan, where the route has already been truncated. From there it will go to Seoul and then to North Korea's capital of Pyongyang before it finally reaches Chinese soil in Hong Kong on May 2.

With files from the Associated Press