MT. QOMOLANGMA BASE CAMP, Tibet, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese climbers carrying the Olympic flame will reach the top of Mt. Qomolangma Thursday morning.

    At 3:00 am (1900 GMT) Thursday, the climbers started the final assault at the world's highest peak from the Attack Camp located at 8,300 meters above sea level. They are expected to reach the 8844.43-meter summit at around 10:00 am.

    Nineteen climbers, including seven backup climbers, had gathered in the Attack Camp. They were waken up by a folk song at 1:30 am and prayed in a ritual at 2:00.