There are concerns that thousands of pro-Tibet and pro-China supporters will clash when the Olympic torch relay passes through the streets of Canberra next week.

Busloads of Chinese Australians are expected to head to Canberra to protect the torch from protestors who want to disrupt the relay.

For security reasons, the relay will be held in a sports stadium, to try to avoid a repeat of the anti-China protests that have marred torch relays in other countries.

Security has been strengthened around Canberra.

"We're preparing ourselves for trouble we've seen what occured in London in Paris and San Francisco," said ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.

ACT Police have been given tougher powers to search people and seize anything they consider to be a weapon, including fire extinguishers.

The territory's Attorney-General says they're similar powers to those given to police during major sporting events.

"Items that could be used as projectiles, flares, fireworks all of those sorts of things that we really just don't want to see at this type of event in the same sort of way that you wouldn't want to see them at a cricket match or rugby league match," said ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell.

Pro-Tibet demonstrators are expected to try to disrupt the relay.

It's anticipated more than five-thousand Chinese Australians will also converge on Canberra.

Chinese student, Rongan Zhang is helping to organise what's been described as a "call for action to protect the Olympic torch".

He says more than 40 buses have been hired to bring supporters from Sydney and Melbourne.

He's also worried about a confrontation and believes some Chinese Australians plan to protect the torch from protestors.

"Some organisers say they have some volunteers who want to come here to protect, run after the torch," he said.

But the tracksuit-wearing Chinese security guards who've run alongside the torch in other cities won't be allowed near it in Canberra.

"It has always been the plan for the ACT that ACT policing would be totally responsible for security that has never wavered that's been the case for nearly nine months now," said Commander Shane Connelly from the Australian Federal Police.

But he says three Chinese "flame attendants" will be on hand to re-light the torch if necessary.

The Canberra leg of the torch relay will travel about 16 kilometres around the city.

"We don't want to change the route but it is a possibility in the event of major protests that may occur," Commander Connelly said.

ACT Police say they're prepared for the worst.

Source: SBS