China suspends torch relay

China is suspending the Beijing Olympic torch relay for three days as part of a national mourning for victims of a powerful earthquake.

Beijing Olympic organisers said in a statement that the suspension starts on Monday – one week after the earthquake struck – “to express our deep mourning to the victims of the earthquake”.

Aside from the relay, the government is ordering all flags be flown at half-staff and a halt to all public recreation activities.

The country is to observe three minutes of silence on Monday at 2:28pm local time – the time the quake hit, killing an estimated 50,000 people.