KUALA LUMPUR, April 20: The Olympic flame arrived in Malaysia on Sunday ahead of a relay in which it will be guarded by about 1,000 police watching for possible protesters over China’s Tibet crackdown and human rights record.

The flame, stored in a special container, arrived from Bangkok at about 2 a.m. (1800 GMT Saturday) on a plane dedicated to carry it to all 19 international destinations on the torch relay before it lands in Beijing for the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony in August.

A Buddhist group held special prayers Sunday at a temple in Kuala Lumpur to call for a trouble-free run of the torch Monday and a peaceful Olympics.

Some 300 Chinese students studying in Malaysia greeted the flame at the airport along with representatives from the National Sports Council and the police, a statement from Olympic Council of Malaysia said.

The flame was taken to a luxury hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur ahead of Monday’s relay run starting at nearby Independence Square.—AP