THE Olympic torch arrived for its only North American stop amid heavy security yesterday, a day after repeated disruptions in Paris by Tibetan separatists and their supporters.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told The Associated Press he was "deeply saddened" by violent protests in London and Paris and concerned about the relay in San Francisco.

The flame arrived in San Francisco shortly before 4 a.m. and was immediately put in a vehicle to be whisked away to a secret location, San Francisco Olympic Torch Relay Committee spokesman David Perry said. Security was heightened because several protests were planned before the torch's six-mile relay today.

"We treated it like a head of state visit," airport spokesman Mike McCaron said.

San Francisco Mayor Garvin Newsom pledged that the city has the ability to provide the level of security to make the Olympic torch relay "a safe event for everyone."

"I have absolute confidence in our police chief Heather Fong to ensure a proud and smooth torch relay" in San Francisco, Newsom said in an interview with Xinhua.

The Police Department has direct experience in Olympic torch runs in San Francisco, Newsom said in remarks intended to alleviate worries about police's ability to provide enough security amid threats to disrupt the relay.

The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), along with the mayor's staff and some other departments, "has been working continuously with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure thesafety of the Beijing torch run participants and the spectators," said the mayor.

He said the city's police "has extensive experience in monitoring and facilitating the hundreds of large public events that take place in San Francisco each year, and is confident that the department will provide the level of security to make this a safe event for everyone."

"The Olympic torch represents the journey for excellence, and we are honored to have the opportunity to host and contribute to the Beijing Olympic Journey of Harmony," Newsom said.

San Francisco will the be sixth leg of the Olympic torch relay when the torch is handed over to the city on April 9. Eighty torchbearers from across North America will carry the Beijing Olympic torch through San Francisco streets in a 6-mile route along the city's bay waterfront on April 9.

"This is our chance to showcase how local innovation and excellence - in fitness, environmental initiatives and sustainable business practices - can be examples for the world."

U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth said in a statement the event was "an important moment for the city to show its character, hospitality and commitment to peace and tolerance."

"It must provide a proper forum for the peaceful expression of opinions and dissent. And it must safely and respectfully welcome the flame and honor the U.S. athletes and other participants who will carry the torch," Ueberroth said.