It's been a controversial journey hit by protests and problems, but the Olympic flame has finally reached the summit of Mount Everest. The torch has made its way across the globe in a storm of anti-Chinese protests over the country's harsh rule of Tibet. However, as the climbers reached the peak they shouted "long live Tibet" and "long live Beijing".
The final steps of the flame's journey were made by an ethnic Tibetan woman Ciren Wangmu, who was handed the torch by Beijing student Huang Chungui. The climbers, all wearing red, shouted joyously into a TV camera after unfurling the Chinese national flag, the Olympic flag and a flag bearing the Beijing Olympic logo.

"Beijing welcomes you!" and "tashi delek", they added - using a Tibetan greeting meaning "may everything be well" - after escorting the flame in a mini-relay to the 29,030 ft peak at the end of a six-hour climb.Anti-Chinese protesters caused serious disruption to the main torch relay on its journey around the world after deadly riots in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on March 14.Climbers, officials and a small team of journalists had to endure thin air at the high altitude, sub-freezing temperatures and basic sanitation as they made their way up the mountain. They staged the relay just shy of the peak amid strong winds and minus-30-degree temperatures. Ciren Wangmu crested the summit this morning and held the torch aloft, sparking jubilant celebrations. The Everest climbing team, which included 22 Tibetans, eight Han Chinese and one man from the Tujia minority, had been on the mountain for more than a week preparing the route along the north-east ridge. "All the ethnicities of the Tibet Autonomous Region are very proud," said Wu Yingjie, executive vice chairman of the region. "The Tibetan ethnicity in particular has made great devotions to the big event." The team included 39-year-old Ji Ji, who trudged the first leg of the mini-torch relay.