May 8, 2008 - The Beijing Olympic torch summitted Mt Everest, reaching the top early on Thursday (May 8) after days of weather-related delays.

The Olympic flame was seen on Chinese national television making its way up the tallest mountain of the world, as a team of Chinese climbers set out for the summit of Mount Everest at 11:30 pm (IST) on Wednesday (May 7).

Heavy snow and high winds had delayed the ascent for sometime but the team finally took off amidst deployment of huge security for the flame's ascent.

Climbing expeditions from both Everest's Tibetan and Nepalese sides have been banned to prevent any disturbance of the summit attempt.

China's plan to carry the torch up Mount Everest became particularly controversial after the authorities in March cracked down on unrest in Tibet that reflected dissatisfaction over Chinese rule.

After heavy snow and high winds had delayed China's attempt to carry a special Olympic torch to the top of Everest, the team set out at 3:00 am local time for the summit of the the 8,848-metre Himalayan peak, the world's highest mountain, Xinhua news agency reported, updating the start time given in its first dispatch.

The climbers were expected to reach the summit at about 7:30 am today (IST) the report said.

The special torch is different to the one currently touring the Chinese mainland after an international relay dogged by protests over Beijing's handling of the situation in Tibet and its overall human rights record.