Chinese President Hu Jintao has overseen the launch of the Olympic torch relay amid rising tensions over his country's harsh crackdown in Tibet.

The Chinese leader marked the start of the relay in a ceremony Monday at Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The ceremony was attended by some five thousand guests from home and abroad.

His participation in the torch ceremony reflected China's expectations that the sporting event will allow it to flex its muscles for the world.

The torch arrived in Beijing from Greece at 8:55 a.m. Monday. It will travel the globe before returning to China 130 days later for the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.