Tyrants turn out at Games opener

Among those believed to be attending the lavish opening ceremony are Prince Nasser al-Khalifa of Bahrain, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

All three regimes have been accused of serious human rights abuses and Mr Tatchell said the leaders should be served with arrest warrants.

Earlier this year human rights groups condemned invitations to representatives of some regimes, including that of Bahrain to the Queen's jubilee celebrations.

While a handful of regimes have been banned from attending the Olympic ceremony a number of others are believed to have received invitations.

Mr Tatchell said: "Those feted include leaders or other state representatives from the tyrannies of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Rwanda and Swaziland.

"It is feared that many other leaders from repressive regimes will attend the opening ceremony, as the Foreign Office and London 2012 organisers are refusing to disclose the invitation list.

"If they have nothing to hide, why are they being so secretive?

"It goes against the principles, values and spirit of the Olympic charter for the Queen, government and London Olympic organisers to fete these tyrants and torturers," said Mr Tatchell.

The Foreign Office did not respond to requests for comment.

paddym@peoples-press.com