The Olympic torch has arrived in South Korea for the next leg of the relay taking it to the Beijing summer games.

A human rights activist displays a placard as he takes part in a demonstration at the Olympic park in Seoul, 26 Apr 2008

South Korea plans to deploy about 8,000 police to provide security for the torch as it passes through Seoul on Sunday.

At least two human rights groups have promised to try to disrupt the South Korean leg of the torch relay.  They want China to stop deporting North Korean refugees, who face stiff punishment or execution for fleeing the north.

The Japanese leg of the relay ended Saturday with a few demonstrators throwing objects into the torch's path and scuffles between protesters and police.  At least one person was detained as the torch made its way through the streets of the northern city of Nagano.

The torch run has been disrupted in other major cities in recent weeks by protesters condemning Chinese human rights practices, especially its forceful suppression of demonstrations in Tibet.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.