Maathai, a veteran of Kenya's civil rights movement who won the Nobel prize in 2004 for her environmental work, was meant to carry the torch on Sunday in the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam.

"I think all of us who care about human rights issues are of course very sympathetic and very concerned about the events that have been unfolding in Tibet for a very long time," she told NTV, after saying she would not take part.

She said she hoped Beijing would listen to protesters who demonstrated in London and Paris over China's human rights record and a recent government crackdown on monk-led protests in Tibet.

"I hope the world and China will hear (the protesters') voice, because they are not doing it for fun," Maathai said. "They are doing it because they are concerned about the human rights issues in Tibet."

She said she had been attracted by Chinese plans to hold an environmentally-friendly "green" Olympics, and still supported Beijing hosting the games.

"I'd like to see a country that is challenged, but is addressing those challenges to the betterment of the environment and the world in general."