Activists want Olympic torch route to plan protests

SAN FRANCISCO " Activists want to know what route the Olympic torch will take through this city so they can plan protests of the Chinese government.

China will host the Olympic games this summer in Beijing, and the government has been criticized for human rights abuses and its policies on Tibet and Darfur.

The American Civil Liberties Union says protesters have a right to plan their rallies. The San Francisco Darfur Coalition also wants information on the route.

The city has been tight-lipped, saying only that the eight-mile route will traverse the city's wider streets, starting and ending near AT&T Park and the Ferry Building.

Mayor Gavin Newsom says keeping the route under wraps is intended to make it more difficult for people to plan disruptions.