Special report:   2008 Olympic Games     

    JAKARTA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Indonesian legislator said he hoped Jakartans will welcome the Olympic Torch relay and asked all parties not to link matters concerning the Tibet riots with the August Beijing Olympics.

    "While everywhere we heard news about demonstrators and such unruly activities during the Olympic Torch relay, which in some places even developed into violence, all these should not occur in Jakarta," said Theo L. Sambuaga, Chairman of the foreign affairs commission of Indonesia's House of Representatives.

    "As a fellow Asian country, Indonesia needs to support China, as up until now only three Asian countries had the chance of holding the Olympics," Antara news agency quoted the legislator assaying on Tuesday.

    "The Beijing Olympics should be something we Asians be proud of," said Theo Sambuaga, adding that "as far as Indonesia is concerned, we have always recognized the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China over Tibet, which is an integral part of Chinese territory."

    He made these remarks on Monday ahead of the upcoming arrival of the Olympic Torch in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, on Tuesday afternoon.