IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge has spoken of "crisis"

Beijing has moved to reassure Olympic officials the troubled torch relay will now go smoothly, after being marred in three countries by anti-China protests.

The International Olympic Committee said China said it "had taken steps" to lessen the risk of further disruption.

A spokeswoman said the IOC hoped the flame relay - now in Argentina - could progress with "more cheers and smiles".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told China he may not be able to attend the opening ceremony in August.

Pro-Tibet campaigners in Argentina have threatened a "surprise" when the torch is paraded through the capital Buenos Aires later on Friday.

But at a news conference, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said: "The [Beijing] organising committee today did underline to us that they have taken steps to make sure that any future risk, if there is any, is mitigated.

Japanese security

"We're very confident and comfortable with that, and we do hope the torch relay can now progress with many more cheers and smiles and the kind of atmosphere that it deserves."

On Thursday, IOC president Jacques Rogge urged China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights.

But Beijing told the IOC to keep politics out of the Games.

In Buenos Aires, several thousand police are braced to line the torch's planned 13km (eight mile) route through the Argentine capital.

Next stop is Tanzania, where Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai has withdrawn from the relay citing concerns over human rights in China.

Tokyo said it does not want Chinese security running next to the flame for the Japanese leg of the relay later this month in the city of Nagano.

The Olympic beacon, which is visiting 20 countries before it arrives in Beijing for the opening ceremony, has been protected by Chinese guards in blue track-suits.

In Paris, it had to be extinguished three times amid safety concerns, while in London there were 37 arrests.

The US stage of the relay in San Francisco on Wednesday passed off amid confusion and tight security.

The UN said on Thursday its secretary general had told China months ago he may not be able to attend the opening ceremony because of scheduling issues.

'Hurt feelings'

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have also said they will not be there, while French President Nicolas Sarkozy is mulling whether to go.

US President George W Bush is under pressure from White House hopefuls John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama not to attend.

China expressed "strong indignation" on Friday over a US Congressional resolution calling on Beijing to stop clamping down on Tibetan dissent and talk to the Dalai Lama, who many Tibetans regard as their spiritual leader.

Security has also been stepped up in Beijing ahead of the Games

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Wednesday's House motion "twisted Tibet's history and modern reality... seriously hurting the feelings of the Chinese people".

The relay disruption follows violent anti-Chinese protests in and around Tibet last month which the authorities suppressed. Activists are also angry at China's links with Sudan, which is accused of genocide in Darfur.

On Thursday it emerged China had refused permission for the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to visit Tibet.

And China said it had foiled terror plots by Muslim separatists in north-western Xinjiang province to target the Games.

The Dalai Lama said China deserved the Games but activists were entitled to non-violent protests.

Beijing says Tibet is an integral part of China and what happens there is an internal matter.

The IOC will consider later this year whether to restrict future Olympic torch processions to host country territory.

IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge has spoken of "crisis"

Beijing has moved to reassure Olympic officials the troubled torch relay will now go smoothly, after being marred in three countries by anti-China protests.

The International Olympic Committee said China said it "had taken steps" to lessen the risk of further disruption.

A spokeswoman said the IOC hoped the flame relay - now in Argentina - could progress with "more cheers and smiles".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told China he may not be able to attend the opening ceremony in August.

Pro-Tibet campaigners in Argentina have threatened a "surprise" when the torch is paraded through the capital Buenos Aires later on Friday.

But at a news conference, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said: "The [Beijing] organising committee today did underline to us that they have taken steps to make sure that any future risk, if there is any, is mitigated.

Japanese security

"We're very confident and comfortable with that, and we do hope the torch relay can now progress with many more cheers and smiles and the kind of atmosphere that it deserves."

On Thursday, IOC president Jacques Rogge urged China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights.

But Beijing told the IOC to keep politics out of the Games.

In Buenos Aires, several thousand police are braced to line the torch's planned 13km (eight mile) route through the Argentine capital.

Next stop is Tanzania, where Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai has withdrawn from the relay citing concerns over human rights in China.

Tokyo said it does not want Chinese security running next to the flame for the Japanese leg of the relay later this month in the city of Nagano.

The Olympic beacon, which is visiting 20 countries before it arrives in Beijing for the opening ceremony, has been protected by Chinese guards in blue track-suits.

In Paris, it had to be extinguished three times amid safety concerns, while in London there were 37 arrests.

The US stage of the relay in San Francisco on Wednesday passed off amid confusion and tight security.

The UN said on Thursday its secretary general had told China months ago he may not be able to attend the opening ceremony because of scheduling issues.

'Hurt feelings'

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have also said they will not be there, while French President Nicolas Sarkozy is mulling whether to go.

US President George W Bush is under pressure from White House hopefuls John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama not to attend.

China expressed "strong indignation" on Friday over a US Congressional resolution calling on Beijing to stop clamping down on Tibetan dissent and talk to the Dalai Lama, who many Tibetans regard as their spiritual leader.

Security has also been stepped up in Beijing ahead of the Games

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Wednesday's House motion "twisted Tibet's history and modern reality... seriously hurting the feelings of the Chinese people".

The relay disruption follows violent anti-Chinese protests in and around Tibet last month which the authorities suppressed. Activists are also angry at China's links with Sudan, which is accused of genocide in Darfur.

On Thursday it emerged China had refused permission for the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to visit Tibet.

And China said it had foiled terror plots by Muslim separatists in north-western Xinjiang province to target the Games.

The Dalai Lama said China deserved the Games but activists were entitled to non-violent protests.

Beijing says Tibet is an integral part of China and what happens there is an internal matter.

The IOC will consider later this year whether to restrict future Olympic torch processions to host country territory.