Tibet activist groups have called for stopping the Olympic torch relay from passing through the restive Himalayan region swamped by the Chinese military to crush the most volatile protests against its rule in two decades.

Apprehending trouble, around 1,000 police officers were deployed in ancient Olympia, where the games originated 3,000 years ago, for the traditional torch lighting ceremony.

The torch is to be carried through 20 countries, including India - and scale 8,848-meter high Mount Everest in Tibet in May for the games that will begin on August 8.

Ahead of the ceremony, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said there was "no momentum" for a boycott but hoped that China will change by opening the country.

"The major political leaders don't want a boycott.... There is no momentum for a boycott," said IOC president Jacques Rogge.

The Olympics, he said, while "not a panacea for all ills", were a force for good that could prompt change.

According to China, at least 19 people have been killed and over 700 injured in the protests that coincided with the anniversary of the failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. Tibetan groups claim the death toll is 130.

Meanwhile, Tibetans staged a demonstration in Kolkata on Monday condemning the cruelty on Tibetans by Chinese troops in Lhasa and other areas.

At least 50 Tibetans, including women, held placards demanding a 'free Tibet' and shouted slogans in favour of the Dalai Lama.

They also demanded 'freedom' for Panchen Lama from Beijing and a peaceful settlement of the Tibetan crisis.

60 Tibetans, rights activists arrested in Kathmandu

At least 60 Tibetans, including monks, were rounded up on Monday as hundreds of Tibetan refugees staged demonstration against China in two different places including one near the United Nations office in Kathmandu.

Police baton charged to disperse some 400 demonstrators who were protesting against the killing of Tibetans by Chinese troops in Lhasa since March 10.

After the police dispersed the agitators in front of the UN building, some 200 Tibetans including women and aged people gathered at Maitighar-Mandala near the government secretariat and staged demonstrations demanding probe into the crackdown by Chinese military in Lhasa on different occasions since March 10 while observing their Uprising Day.

Meanwhile, some eight to ten Nepalese human rights activists were also arrested as they assembled at Maitighar Mandala to extend support to the Tibetan protestors, eye-witnesses said.

CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda has extended support to Chinese government's suppression of the Tibetans saying that it is China's duty to control separatist violence.

"We cannot term the Chinese government's step to check violence unleashed by the separatists in Tibet as 'crackdown,'" he said.