BEIJING, April 26: Beijing unveiled on Thursday the route for the 2008 Olympic torch relay, including politically charged visits to Taiwan and Tibet, where it will be carried to Mount Everest.

The flame will pass through at least 22 cities in five continents, including capitals such as Paris, London and Pyongyang, and make scores of stops in China, the announcement said.“By ... crossing the five continents and going to new places, the Beijing 2008 torch relay, will, as its theme says, be a journey of harmony, friendship and respect to people of different nationalities, races and creeds,” said Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee. “The world is watching and waiting, eager to see what Beijing and China has to offer.”—AFP