The story

China has tightened visa controls ahead of the Olympic Games, with invitation letters and hotel reservations required for some travelers, the government acknowledged Tuesday after weeks of insisting the entry process was business as usual.

"We have made some arrangements according to the practice of the past Olympics and usual international practice. That is, in the approval process we are more strict and more serious with the procedure," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

The changes come amid fears the summer games will be disrupted by protesting activists or possibly terrorists -- a concern deepened after the troubled progress made by the international Olympic torch relay. Read full article »

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