PARIS (Reuters) - Chinese officials curtailed a relay of the Olympic torch through Paris on Monday after thousands of pro-Tibet protesters repeatedly blocked its path and turned the event into a chaotic shambles.

The flame had to be extinguished at least twice and sheltered in a bus on several occasions to protect it from the mass of demonstrators denouncing China's crackdown on Tibet.

Apparently angered by a human rights banner hanging from Paris city hall, the Chinese organisers called off a reception for the torch cortege at the last minute and sped past hundreds of flag-waving protesters awaiting the flame's arrival.

"Free Tibet," the crowds chanted, with many bystanders charging the imposing security cordon to try to grab the flame in scenes reminiscent of the protests that hit the torch's tormented journey through London on Sunday.

"No flames in Tibet," said one banner strung from a bridge over the River Seine. "Boycott Chinese goods," said another banner, while hundreds of brightly coloured Tibetan flags fluttered in the cold winter sunlight.

The relay organisers finally threw in the towel outside the French national assembly when some parliamentarians showed their support for Tibet. The flame was put onto a bus and driven down to the final stage of the relay in southern Paris.

There, former swimming champion Christine Caron set alight a cauldron in front of the Charlety stadium and in a carefully stage-managed show, fireworks flashed up around the podium.

But the real fireworks were seen on the streets of Paris, with the build up to the August Beijing Olympics rapidly becoming a public relations disaster for the Chinese organisers.

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The French leg of the relay set off at 12.30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. British time) from the Eiffel Tower but swiftly ran into crowds of protesters. The flame had to be extinguished a first time after demonstrators neared the torch-bearers.

Police said it was put out because of a technical problem but Chinese officials said it was over safety concerns.

It then had to be extinguished a second time. One French television channel said it was put out five times in all.

A demonstrator came close to seizing the torch from an athlete in a wheelchair in one of many tense moments that repeatedly snarled the progress of the flame.

"We are doing our best but it will take the world to put pressure on China to help bring democracy and human rights to Tibet," said Phurbu Dolker, a 21-year-old Tibetan refugee.

Hundreds of pro-Chinese supporters also joined the crush, waving aloft the red Chinese flag, and there were occasional scuffles between the different camps as they awaited the flame.

France deployed more than 3,000 police officers for the Paris stage of the international relay, billed by Beijing as the "harmonious journey" but which has become more like a violent obstacle course.

"The Chinese officials decided they would not stop here because they were put out by Parisian citizens expressing their support for human rights. It is their responsibility," Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe said after the flame sped past city hall.

Police clad in riot gear detained dozens of demonstrators through the day, wrestling some of them to the ground when they tried to cross the security barriers.

Television showed one protester lying in the road, his face smeared with blood. "Free Tibet" he shouted.

The Olympic flame will now fly to its next stop, San Francisco. It is expected to remain a magnet for anti-Chinese protests ahead of the games.

The flame is due to return to Beijing on August 6, two days before it will be used to light the cauldron at the Olympic opening ceremony.