China taps anti-terror expert for Olympics

In an effort to beef up security in the run up to the Olympics, China has appointed a top terrorist expert to the post of vice public security minister on Tuesday. The news comes amid fears that disruption to the Games will come from internal groups, rather than foreign ones.

Yang Huanning, 51, who has previously worked in Xinjiang and Tibet, was tapped because of his rich police and anti-terror experience, Chinese media said. Yang was head of the country's counter-terrorism affairs before being appointed to his new post.

Last week, Interpol chief Ronald Noble told Reuters in a phone interview that China is more concerned about domestic than international terrorism. Noble acknowledged, though, that Chinese authorities have devoted "more resources to making sure these are safe Olympics than any other country has ever before."

Noble pointed to the pro-Tibet protests that disrupted the Olympic torch relay as one reason fro the increased concern that "people might want to use the Olympics in order to make a statement against China," Reuters quoted him as saying.

He also said that from the Interpol's perspective, China has done everything to ensure that the August Games are safe and secure.

Over the weekend, a four-day State-level anti-terrorism drill was held in Beijing. Also, 40 anti-terrorism teams, who will be on round-the-clock alert beginning July 1, have been established in the capital, a Xinhua report said.

In related news, the Olympic torch has entered Xinjiang province, which, with Tibet, is considered the most sensitive legs of the relay, AP said. Like Tibet, Xinjiang has a culture that's distinctly different from the majority Han Chinese, the news agency said. It also said that the Muslin, Turkic-speaking Uighurs have been locked in a low-intensity struggle against Chinese rule.

According to AP, Chinese authorities have said on at least three occasions this year that they have foiled plots by Xinjiang separatists that targeted the Games either directly or indirectly.

Citing public security, officials said that only hand-picked bystanders with credentials will be allowed to watch the relay on the streets.

"On the day of the relay, over 100,000 chosen citizens will be shouting and cheering on the streets. However, given that too many people will cause the rise of unsafe elements, we suggest that everybody else watch the relay live on TV at home," Li Guangming, party secretary of the Xinjiang Sports Administration, was quoted by Xinjiang Daily newspaper on Monday as saying.

The date for the Olympic torch relay in Tibet is yet to be announced.