URUMQI, China - The International Olympics chief said Thursday that the Summer Games scheduled for August in China are in ''crisis'' amid protests following the Olympic torch, and the sense of emergency surrounding the games grew Thursday when China declared that it had smashed a Muslim terrorist ring that was plotting to kidnap Olympic athletes.

The Ministry of Public Security said it broke up a terror ring of 35 members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement in this predominantly Muslim city in far west China. It said the group planned a variety of actions to disrupt the Aug. 8-24 games, including setting off bombs in Beijing and Shanghai.

The arrests occurred March 26 to April 6, Public Security Ministry spokesman Wu Heping told a news conference in Beijing, adding that police also seized 21 pounds of explosives, eight detonators and two explosive devices.

''The violent terrorist group plotted to kidnap foreign journalists, tourists and athletes during the Beijing Olympics and, by creating an international impact, achieve the goal of wrecking the Beijing Olympics,'' Wu said.

''We are facing a real threat from terrorism,'' Wu said, declining to take questions.

At the same time, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge acknowledged that protests of the Olympic torch during the past week have been tough on the Olympic movement.

''It is a crisis, no doubt about it,'' Rogge told other Olympics representatives meeting in Beijing as he urged them to reassure athletes that the games ''will be very well-organized.''

SOURCE