Paris - Dozens of French lawmakers on Monday joined the anti-China protest that also caused the Olympic torch to be extinguished and transported by bus to protect it from thousands of protesters lining its course through Paris. About 50 deputies from all French parties stood behind a banner reading "Respect Human Rights in China" as the torch passed the seat of the National Assembly in central Paris, BFM television reported.
Some of the lawmakers also chanted "Freedom for Tibet" before all of them sang the French national anthem, the Marseillaise.
The lawmakers' protest followed numerous incidents along the 28- kilometre course through the French capital along which the torch was to be relayed by athletes.
The most serious of the incidents forced French police to extinguish the torch because of the numerous pro-Tibet demonstrators lining the streets. Police officials said the torch had been dimmed for "technical reasons."
However, the Olympic flame itself - which must never be snuffed out before reaching its goal - was kept alive in the Olympic lamp, police said.
An International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman said that the group could not comment on the incidents.
"The torch is the responsibility of ... the local Olympic committee," he said, adding that the Olympic flame "never dies."
The incident occurred about one hour after former world 400- metre-hurdles champion Stephane Diagana left the first level of the Eiffel Tower on the first leg of the torch's scheduled itinerary through the French capital.
Police then interrupted the relay at least three times to place the torch on a bus to protect it from protesters.
Because the demonstrators delayed the passage of the torch by at least two hours, it made the final leg of its trip by bus.
In addition, Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe said that Chinese officials had cancelled a scheduled ceremony at City Hall to prevent additional incidents.
At least four protesters were taken into custody, BFM reported.
The disruptions occurred despite a heavy police presence following the torch's tumultuous passage through London on Sunday, when at least 36 people were arrested.
Some 3,000 police officers were stationed on the ground, in the air and even on the Seine River, while the torch was accompanied by a tight security perimeter of some 400 police officers on foot, motorcycles and roller blades as well as in cars.
The media rights group Reporters Without Borders had vowed to carry out protests that will be "symbolic, spectacular ... but respectful of the Games."
The group hung a large protest banner on the Eiffel Tower and three of its members then chained themselves to the monument.
Reporters Without Borders was at the heart of pro-Tibetan protests at the torch-lighting ceremony in Greece and has called for an international boycott of the August 8 opening ceremonies in Beijing.
Both French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner have both said that "all options are open" regarding a possible boycott of the ceremonies.
Also on Monday, Tibetan nationals living in France held a "citizen's day of solidarity" at the Square of Human Rights not far from the Eiffel Tower to protest the Chinese crackdown on Tibetan pro-independence demonstrations.
Paris is the final European stop for the torch, which will then be transported to the American continent for appearances in San Francisco on Wednesday and Buenos Aires on Friday.
