Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, warned Beijing yesterday that he would not allow Chinese officials to provide their own security for the Olympic torch when it is carried through Canberra this month.

Speaking after complaints in London and Paris about the behaviour of the Chinese Olympic officials who wrestled with demonstrators and, at one point, appeared to take control of Downing Street, the Australian leader said that such incidents would not be repeated in his capital.

“All security, repeat all security, is provided by Australians,” he told The Times during a visit to London.

The Olympic torch is due to be carried through Canberra on April 24 and is likely to attract antiChinese demonstrations similar to those seen in London, Paris and this morning in San Francisco.

Mr Rudd, who begins an official visit to China today, said: “The great thing about our countries is that we are free countries. People can protest. People will have strong views about Tibet. They can articulate their views. We are not seeking to constrain it.”

Mr Rudd, who served as a diplomat in Beijing, has been invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Games in August. Unlike President Bush, Gordon Brown and other world leaders who have accepted the invitation, he has still not made up his mind. He said that he was strongly opposed to a boycott of the Games, however.

“My view is that boycotts do not work,” he said. “I do not support a boycott. The boycott of Moscow in 1980 had no impact on the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.”

He said that the international community should engage China instead. During his talks with Chinese leaders this week he said he would raise concerns about human rights and Tibet.

“We need to say to the Chinese that they need to reconstitute a process between themselves and the Dalai Lama on language, culture and religion,” Mr Rudd said.

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