Brown denies avoiding China row

Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis carried the torch to Downing St

Gordon Brown has rejected suggestions he avoided a human rights row with China because Britain could not afford to jeopardise economic relations.

"It's nothing to do with that - in a human rights dialogue with China we make our views perfectly clear," the prime minister told the BBC.

Olympic torch relays in London and Paris were disrupted by pro-Tibet protesters on Sunday and Monday.

Mr Brown told the BBC police had done the "best job they could" in London.

He said there were always security lessons to learn, but protests in Paris had illustrated the "very strong feelings".

No boycott

The Metropolitan Police have released 37 people arrested for public order offences during the London leg of the relay on Sunday and denied they were heavy-handed in their handling of the protests.

Mr Brown told the BBC: "Within the law, people of course are free to demonstrate, we don't like what we see when people try to break through a cordon but the fact is the police were doing the best job they could."

Everybody was told beforehand I wasn't going to be carrying the torch or touching it Gordon Brown

He said even the Dalai Lama - Tibet's spiritual leader in exile - was not calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

"Around the world people have got to look at what the Dalai Lama said, look at what different people who are talking about China are saying.

"I don't think there is a demand to boycott the Olympics and I don't think that will happen," Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown also pointed out that last month he had phoned Chinese premier Wen to raise his concerns about Tibet and to urge reconciliation and dialogue.

He said he would continue to press the Chinese authorities over human rights.

The torch was received at Downing Street on Sunday, although Mr Brown did not hold it.

He told the BBC that had always been the plan: "It was made clear beforehand that the torch would be passed between the athletes - it was not a torch for politicians to try and sort of get their hands on.

"Everybody was told beforehand I wasn't going to be carrying the torch or touching it."