China's Ministry of Public Security has ordered all provincial public security departments concerned to ensure traffic safety for the upcoming Olympic torch relay across the country from May 4 to August 8.

A work group under the ministry that is in charge of the safety and guarding of the 29th Olympic Games issued a decree to this effect, saying all local public security departments concerned should adopt substantial and effective means to ensure traffic order in the areas to host the torch relay.

Local police departments were urged to work out risk evaluation for the relay route and roads around, so as to eliminate all hidden dangers before the torch relay is held. The route must be re-configured if the hidden dangers can not be eliminated on time, it said.

The ministry asked all local police departments concerned to conduct education and training for all people involved in guarding the torch relay.

All public security departments concerned should take it as an opportunity to crackdown on illegal activities on roads and prevent the occurrence of major traffic accidents, it said.

All vehicles involved in the torch relay must be checked, and those with hidden dangers must not be allowed to participate in the relay-related activities, the decree said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2008)