The People's Daily said the country was faced with a 'huge responsibility', even as news emerged that two Uighur Muslims convicted of terrorist and separatist activities were executed last week in Xinjiang.

'The international situation and the political environment is becoming increasingly complicated by the day, and the dark clouds of terrorism on our borders are a fact that cannot be ignored,' the leading newspaper said in an editorial.

'Up until the present, we know there will be 80 heads of state attending the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. As the host nation, we are faced with unprecedented pressure and a huge responsibility.'

Rioting and looting in Tibet this year and recent police battles with 'terrorist groups' in the Xinjiang region were evidence of real threats to sabotage the Games, the commentary said.

It defended massive security efforts that have resulted in a missile battery being placed outside the main Olympic stadium and other venues.

A 100,000-strong anti-terrorism force, including a special armoured rapid response team with 39 new bulletproof patrol vehicles, is in place. Bag searches are being conducted on the subway.

The authorities in Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, announced on Saturday that checkpoints would be set up on all roads leading into the capital from next Sunday.

The authorities have also made great efforts to ensure Beijing will not run dry during the Aug 8-24 Games, despite several years of drought.

And it seems to have paid off: The main reservoirs feeding the capital are holding more than enough water for the 1.5 million visitors expected, the Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.

Plenty of petrol and diesel will also be made available by PetroChina and Sinopec, China's two leading oil producers, even though cars will be allowed on Beijing's roads only on alternate days from next Sunday.

But Olympic organisers will need to work harder on vegetables and tourists.

Beijing's hotels are reporting reservation rates of as low as 10 per cent, a municipal Tourism Bureau official said last Friday, although five-star hotels are more than 77 per cent booked for the Games.

Supplies of vegetables coming into Beijing have dropped about 10 per cent this month, said Mr Wang Xiaodong, director of the city's agricultural office, ironically because truck drivers fear falling foul of traffic restrictions being introduced for the Games.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS