Mournful Shanghai welcomes Olympic torch

SHANGHAI (AFP) - The Olympic torch reached China's financial hub of Shanghai on Friday, but celebrations were muted as the city paid tribute to the victims of last week's devastating earthquake.

The flame-lighting ceremony held in downtown Shanghai began with a minute of silence for the more than 80,000 people who were killed or left missing in the quake that flattened entire towns in mountainous Sichuan province.

In a brief speech to welcome the torch, Shanghai city mayor Han Zheng said the hearts of the city's 19 million residents went out to those affected by the quake.

"When torchbearers pass the flame, it's not just the Olympic spirit they are passing, but also the confidence and courage with which the people of Shanghai join hands with the victims of the quake to rebuild their beautiful homelands," Han said.