Taiwan stopover for Beijing torch relay undecided

Beijing's wish to have the 2008 Olympics torch relay pass through Taiwan has yet to be granted and a final decision will be taken in the coming months, the International Olympic Committee said.

China is eager to make a stop in Taiwan, a territory it considers a rebel province.

"The route (of the torch relay) is not yet defined," IOC president Jacques Rogge told reporters.

"It is still under discussion.

"We expect a resolution on the discussions in a couple of months," he said.

Beijing Games organisers are following in the footsteps of the Athens 2004 Olympics organisers and are planning an international torch relay that is expected to include 28 cities around the world and take it to the top of Mount Everest.

Chinese state officials last month said they would "try their utmost" to include Taiwan.