Will Tibet Tensions Threaten the Olympic Torch Relay?

This question remains on the forefront of many minds right now.  The Olympics are still months away, but as you can see from yesterday's lighting the Olympic torch, this year's Olympics might not be just a warm and fuzzy demonstration of international brotherhood. 

Three representatives from the French-based organization, Reporters Without Borders, disrupted the torch-lighting ceremony, and show no sign of backing down.  They've received international support, and have many allies in France.

Today French president Nicholas Sarkozy told reporters that he would not rule out a boycott of the Opening Ceremonies. Sarkozy told journalists, "all the options are open but I call to the sense of responsibility of the Chinese leaders. I think that's the way we have to react."

Other world leaders haven't taken such a strong sense, though many have urged Chinese leaders to show restraint.  Never one to go with the flow, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez took the opposite stance.  Yesterday, he blamed the situation on "imperalists." 

According to Chavez, "the imperialists want to divide China and they are provoking problems in Tibet. Do you know what they are doing? They are trying to sabotage the Olympic Games that will take place in Peking, and behind this (sabotage) is the hand of imperialism. We know and we denounce it, and we ask the world to support China to neutralize this plan to sabotage the Olympic Games in Beijing."

Singapore has also expressed their solidarity with China.  According to a statement from their Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ""Singapore supports the declared policy of the Chinese government to protect the lives and property of its citizens from violent demonstrators with minimum use of force."

Chances are that the majority of world leaders are somewhere in between Singapore and Sarkozy, but as the Olympic torch begins its journey around the world, expect heated opinions on China's policies to travel alongside the torch. 

For more on the Olympic torch relay, time.com has an excellent interactive feature detailing the path of the torch, and some possible bumps along the way.