NEW DELHI - THE Olympic torch arrived at New Delhi airport early on Thursday amid heavy security because of fears members of the world's largest community of exiled Tibetans may disrupt its passage through the Indian capital.

The torch was carried off a plane by Mr Suresh Kalmadi, the chief of the Indian Olympic Association, before being taken along a route lined with hundreds of policemen to spend the rest of the night in a luxury hotel.

Fearing similar protests to those that met the torch elsewhere, India has trimmed the route to a third of the original 9km distance, restricting it to a high-security stretch used for the annual Republic Day parade in the Indian capital.

Thousands of police and paramilitary officers will line the route, which passes close to the nation's parliament and the offices of federal ministers.

The torch was in neighbouring Pakistan on Wednesday.

India has been caught in a swirl of protests by Tibetan exiles since last month's unrest in Tibet. Despite the Dalai Lama's support for the Beijing Games, the protesters have vowed to disrupt the flame's journey in New Delhi.

Tibetans plan to hold a parallel torch relay on Thursday to protest Chinese action and demand Tibet's independence.

The Dalai Lama, based in the northern Indian hills, has urged Tibetans to desist from disrupting the torch relay, but protests have continued.

India had to assure China of adequate security for the torch after the Chinese foreign minister called his Indian counterpart this month.

A total of 70 torch-bearers, including 45 current and former athletes, will carry the torch. - REUTERS