By ANDY DOLAN

Last updated at 22:37 03 April 2008

The Chinese ambassador was yesterday on the brink of pulling out of the Olympic torch relay through London as MPs condemned her decision to participate in the showpiece event.

Fu Ying had been officially confirmed as one of the 80 torchbearers for Sunday's relay, which will be policed by thousands of officers amid threats of violent protests against China's human rights record and its recent crackdown in Tibet.

The Olympic flame is traditionally lit in Olympia, Greece, several months before the opening of the Games.

After the ceremony last month, the torch was flown to Beijing - venue for the 2008 games - and is now on a journey through 130 countries before returning to the Chinese capital for the Games in August.

Yesterday the Chinese embassy appeared to be paving the way for the ambassadors withdrawal by announcing she would probably be needed for other duties on the day.

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Spokesman Zhao Shangsen said: "Beijing requires the ambassador to be with the [Beijing Olympic] delegation. She does not know whether she can meet the two demands."

The news came as MPs debating the situation in Tibet made clear their anger over her participation in Wembley to North Greenwich relay.

Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall and the former Labour sports minister told the packed debate at Westminster Hall: "It is quite outrageous that the Chinese ambassador in London is going to be carrying the Olympic torch, the torch of harmony through the streets of London."

She called for peaceful protests at the event.

Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, added: "For the Chinese ambassador to take up that action on Sunday is really to stoke up the flames quite unnecessarily and will add insult to injury" and called for her to reconsider.

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The Metropolitan Police will throw a ring of steel around the torch for Sunday's relay, expected to attract 80,000 spectators.

Police on the ground will be supported by mounted police, police boats on the Thames and a force helicopter, in a massive security operation triggered by fears the relay could be hijacked by anti-Chinese groups.

At least six groups are organising demonstrations along the route.

Officers fear three other Chinese VIPs lined up to carry the torch could also come under threat, while campaigners have been warned that pro-Chinese protesters are planning a counter-attack.

Gordon Brown is due to greet the torch at Downing Street, but Whitehall is expected to be a flashpoint for clashes between the two groups.

Celebrities taking part in the showpiece relay - the longest of its kind in Olympic history - could also embarrass organisers with a protest.

Some are expected to wear "free Tibet" t-shirts and wave pro-Tibet flags.

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Fu Ying, the Chinese ambassador, may pull out of Sunday's Beijing Olympics torch event in London

Former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq, one of those taking part, said she had considered pulling out of the relay over China's crackdown in Tibet, but will use her status as an official torchbearer to protest.

Commander Bob Broadhurst, in charge of the security operation, said: "We will deal with anything swiftly and properly. I am confident the police will act appropriately."

Ann Holmes, acting director of the Free-Tibet campaign said that pro-Chinese groups could be violent and warned that in 1999, during a state visit by the Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, "there was an aggressive response from some members of the Chinese community to Free Tibet's protest..and it did get unpleasant."

She also revealed that a number of celebrity torchbearers have approached the group privately with a view to making a pro-Tibet statement during the relay.

The torch will this year be carried 85,000 miles by 21,880 torch bearers, with the London leg starting at 10.30am on Sunday morning from Arena Square, next to Wembley Stadium with Sir Steve Redgrave.

Broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, newly-retired tennis player Tim Henman and Arsenal and England footballer Theo Walcott will be among the 80 people carrying the torch past street parties, live performances and street performers.

The relay will end at 6pm at the O2 Arena in North Greenwich, where double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will use it to ignite a cauldron.

After London, the torch will move on to Paris.