Beijing police have launched a new department dedicated to liaising with foreign security forces to help prevent terrorist attacks at the 2008 Olympics.

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"Nonetheless, we all know that the world today is far from peaceful," said Qiang, head of the Olympic Security Coordination Group (OSCG).

"As an unprecedented sports event, the Olympic Games has been a target of international terrorist groups (in the past).

"Therefore, to protect people, we will be taking proactive measures to envisage every possible threat.

"A safe Olympics is a common goal of the international community. It cannot be achieved without sufficient international cooperation."

Police in China, which has been largely free of terrorist activity in recent years, killed 18 people in a raid on a terrorist camp in the far-western region of Xinjiang last week.

Qiang said 2007 was crucial for the preparations and that the 26 Olympic test events being held this year would give the authorities a chance to try out their security systems.