DOGPILE ON THE DRAGON:

Nobel winner Maathai pulls out of Olympic torch relay: The Kenyan activist says the recent demonstrations against China made her realize she must add her voice to the protests. (Richard C. Paddock, 4/10/08, Los Angeles Times)

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai of Kenya said Thursday that she would not run as planned in the Olympic torch relay in Tanzania this weekend, to protest abuses of human rights and destruction of the environment in China.

Maathai, who was awarded the Nobel in 2004 for her environmental and political activism, said she had notified organizers of the torch run that she would give up her spot in the relay Sunday, joining in the growing international protest against China.

She also echoed Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu's call for heads of state to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August.

"As the torch is going around the world, it is producing greater division than unity," Maathai said by telephone from Dar es Salaam, the Tanzanian capital. "For the heads of state not to attend is the best way to demonstrate they support the global public opinion that is emerging and join in sending this very strong message to China."