S.F. torch runner ducks into warehouse

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9 (UPI) -- Thousands of protesters -- pro-Tibet and pro-China -- lined San Francisco streets Wednesday as an Olympic torch-bearer took off, ducking into a warehouse.

Police officers abandoned the portion of the route between McCovey Cove, the relay's starting point, prompting speculation the torch would be moved by boat along a route that may have changed, CNN reported. Police watercraft were outside the warehouse.

A convoy of police vehicles later emerged from the warehouse, fueling speculation the torch, torch-bearers and security personnel were being taken to another location. Runners eventually picked up the relay at another area along the route

Extra law enforcement officials turned out and the route was shortened for a second time because of security concerns, CNN reported. Thousands of demonstrators showed up at the relay's lone North American stop to protest China's record on human rights and its military crackdown in Tibet. However, the city's Chinese community also turned out, as did a group of pro-Olympic university students.

Jian Gong, a University of California-Berkeley student, said he traveled to San Francisco to safeguard the torch relay against the interruption that occurred in Paris and London, The New York Times reported.

Protesters disrupted relays in London and Paris, prompting the Parisian leg to be canceled about halfway.