Snowfall hits Everest Olympic torch bid

Everest Base Camp: China's plan to take a special Olympic torch to the top of Mount Everest faced a possible setback on Saturday as snow fell on Everest.

The climbing team has been at 6,500 metres in advanced base camp for at least two days, waiting for better weather to take the flame to the 8,848-metre peak.

"We are very well prepared. It's not necessarily bad news because after snow there is often a few days of good weather,'' said Suonam Cuomo, deputy director of the Everest torch logistics department.

"But the heavy snow will have an effect on route building in the mountains," she told a media briefing.

The attempt to take the Olympic flame up Everest was intended as a showpiece, separate leg of the torch relay ahead of August's Beijing Games.