Photo Gallery Olympic Torch Hurries Through San Francisco
The Olympic torch made a fleeting appearance in San Francisco on Wednesday, always flanked by deep ranks of security guards.
After massive protests in London and Paris when the flame appeared in those cities earlier this week, organizers in San Francisco were bracing for similar disturbances in the US city with the closest connections to China.
Pro-Tibet demonstrators held a huge rally in San Francisco on the eve of the flame's arrival.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa addressed the crowd.
As did actor Richard Gere.
On Wednesday, the flame was kept under tight security.
Torch runners lit the torch and embarked on a stop-and-start route through four miles of San Francisco streets.
Hundreds of police officers followed the torch at every step.
Pro-Tibetan protestors tried to adapt to the unpredictable route.
A group of protestors lay down in the street in front of a bus that they thought was carrying the flame.
Thousands of pro-Tibet supporters gathered in the streets to protest China's policies toward Tibet.
Pro-China supporters also gathered in large numbers.
Other protestors took issue with organizations such as the UN.
Or CNN, the cable news broadcaster.
After the schizophrenic appearance in San Francisco, the flame was taken on board a plane bound for Buenos Aires, the next stop on its international tour.
