China envoy: U.S. torch relay successful

SAN FRANCISCO, April 10 (UPI) -- China's envoy to the United States says the San Francisco relay of the Olympic torch was successful but other reports said the event was marked by confusion.

Thousands of anti-Chinese protesters and others in San Francisco were disappointed as city authorities clamped tight security on the event Wednesday, the San Jose Mercury New reported. Both those supporting the selection of China as the Olympics host and those opposed because of China's crackdown on Tibet and its other human rights violations turned out.

San Francisco was the only U.S. stop for the torch's worldwide relay before it reaches Beijing for the start of the Olympic Games.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom admitted many people were disappointed but said his top concern was security, the Mercury News report said. Police Chief Heather Fong agreed saying, "It was the right decision to not put people in harm's way."

Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenshong said the Wednesday relay was "successful" and called the U.S. reception enthusiastic, the official Xinhua news agency reported.