The Chinese government on Sunday announced the suspension of the Olympic torch relay during three days of mourning for more than 32,500 people who died in a devastating earthquake, the dpa reported.
State media said the three days from Monday would be "national mourning days for the victims" of the earthquake in the south-western province of Sichuan last Monday.
The semi-official China News Service said flags would be flown at half-mast, public entertainment activities would be suspended, and the whole nation would be asked to observe a three-minute silence at 2:28 pm. (0628 GMT), exactly one week after the earthquake struck.