Arrests precede Indonesia torch relay

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesian police arrested six pro-Tibet protesters and took down anti-Chinese banners and signs outside a sports complex where Tuesday's Olympic torch relay was scheduled to be held, according to a protest organizer.

Enrico Soekarno of the Indonesian Society for a Free Tibet said police moved in on protesters after a "provocateur" -- who he suspected came from police ranks -- infiltrated his group and began a scuffle.

Six people were arrested after they tried to stop police from taking their signs, Soekarno said.

He said his group may return to the stadium to continue its protest or may demonstrate in another location.

The Tuesday arrests in Jakarta were the latest in a string of incidents that have surrounded the Olympic torch relay. Activists have used the relay as a way to protest China's policies in Tibet and on human rights.

China blames supporters of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, for organizing last month's demonstrations in Tibet and neighboring provinces.

The Olympic flame's run in Jakarta will be limited to a track around the city's main sports stadium -- Senayan Sports Complex. Only invited guests and journalists will be allowed inside, the Indonesian Sports Committee said. Watch preparations in Jakarta »

Security measures designed to prevent the relay -- shortened to slightly more than 4 miles (7 kilometers) -- from being disrupted limit spectators to watching through a fence surrounding the stadium, sports committee chairman Rita Subowo said.

The 80 runners include celebrities, athletes and political figures. They will each carry the torch about 80 meters.

"We respect all the freedom of expression, but we have also the Olympic charter to be followed," Subowo said.

While anti-Tibet protests in Indonesia have not been large, security will be tight. Several hundred people will be outside the stadium to protest Tuesday's relay, the Indonesian Society for a Free Tibet said.

"We're not against the Olympics, per se, because we're not against sports, but we are against what China's doing to all the other minorities, not just Tibet," Soekarno said.

Earlier torch relay stops in London, England; Paris, France; and San Francisco, California attracted tens of thousands of demonstrators. Some protesters in those cities tried to disrupt the relay, and police made dozens of arrests. Watch a timeline of the Olympics and politics »

Various Asian nations have altered the Olympic torch relay to avoid the large-scale protests seen in Western Europe and the United States. In India, which has a large Tibetan exile population, the relay length was cut back and carried out under heavy security in New Delhi. Follow a map of the international torch relay »

In Japan, security concerns and sympathy toward Tibetans prompted a Buddhist temple in Nagano to withdraw from participation in the Olympic torch relay this weekend.

Nepal said it has given its security personnel permission to shoot pro-Tibet demonstrators during China's Olympic flame climb to Mount Everest's summit early next month.

On Monday in Malaysia, heavy security was in place to protect the 80 runners that carried the Olympic torch along a 10-mile (16 km) route through the Malaysian capital, ending at the Petronas Twin Towers.

About 500 Chinese students attended the relay, carrying pro-China signs and heckling the few people taking a pro-Tibet stand. An Olympics organizer said the Chinese Embassy arranged for the students to be there.

Several of the students told CNN that the Chinese government provided their transportation to the event and gave them the flags and shirts. E-mail to a friend

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