A major Japanese Buddhist temple withdrew yesterday from a plan to host the Beijing Olympics torch relay, citing safety concerns and sympathy among its monks and worshippers for Tibetan protesters facing a Chinese crackdown.

Zenkoji Temple declined to serve as the starting point for the April 26 relay, said Kunihiko Shinohara, secretary-general of the Nagano city organizing committee for the event. The relay has drawn protests around the world against China's handling of Tibetan demonstrators.

"Zenkoji is a Buddhist temple. Naturally, we are concerned about Tibet," Zenkoji official Shinsho Wakaomi told a televised news conference after meeting the city officials.

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"The principle of the Olympic charter is to overcome the differences of race, religion, gender and ideology, but the current situation has raised a question about it."

He said the monks were concerned about the way fellow Buddhists were treated in Tibet, as well as the safety of the temple and its worshippers in case the relay sparks the angry demonstrations it has brought to Europe and the United States.

City officials said they respect the temple's decision, although that meant the starting point has to change.

"We do understand the importance of human rights issues," said Nagano Mayor Shoichi Washizawa. "But once we had made a commitment to host the torch relay, we must accomplish our duty squarely."

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