Canberra ready for extra security for torch relay

CANBERRA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Australian capital Canberra's Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said here on Tuesday the capital was ready to make any last-minute changes to security when the Olympic torch passes through the city.

"The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) government has been liaising with the Chinese Embassy, (Department of) Defense and the Australian Federal Police on security arrangements from the time Canberra was invited to participate in the torch relay," Stanhope told the local media.

"These arrangements are well-advanced and, of course, will remain subject to whatever change or augmentation might be needed, right up until the day of the Canberra leg."

"Canberra has the advantage of hosting the torch later in the global tour, and will be able to learn from the experience of other cities along the way."

The torch's journey to Beijing for the August 8 start of the Games will last 130 days and cover 137,000km worldwide. Its only Australian stop will be in Canberra on April 24.