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China blames Dalai Lama for riots China blames Dalai Lama for riots
(about 1 hour later)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has accused the Dalai Lama of masterminding recent violence in Tibet's main city, Lhasa. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has accused the Dalai Lama of masterminding the recent days of demonstrations against Chinese rule in Tibet's capital, Lhasa.
Speaking on the last day of parliament, Mr Wen said the exiled Tibetan leader's claim of "cultural genocide" in Tibet was nothing but lies. Mr Wen said the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's claim of "cultural genocide" was "nothing but lies".
The Dalai Lama denied he was behind the unrest and said he would resign from the government in exile if it worsened. The Dalai Lama denied he was behind the unrest and said he would resign from the government-in-exile if it worsened. China says 13 people were killed by rioters in Lhasa. Tibetan exiles say at least 80 protesters died.
China says 13 people were killed by rioters in Lhasa. Tibetan exiles say at least 80 protesters died. The protests began on 10 March - the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule - and gradually escalated, culminating in a day of violence late last week.
The protests began on 10 March - the anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule - and gradually escalated, culminating in a day of violence late last week. If things are getting out of control, then the option is to completely resign The Dalai Lama class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4459&edition=1">Send us your comments Mr Wen's comments - his first since the violence broke out - came in response to a question by a Western journalist at a news conference following the close of parliament.
There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique Wen Jiabao class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4459&edition=1">Send us your comments Mr Wen defended China's handling of the violence, accusing protesters of robbery, arson and violence. He said Tibetan exiles had instigated the violence.
Mr Wen's comments - his first since the violence broke out - came in response to a question by a Western journalist at a news conference following the close of parliament.
He defended China's handling of the violence, accusing protesters of robbery, arson and violence, and said Tibetan exiles had instigated the violence.
"There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique," he said."There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique," he said.
"This has all the more revealed the consistent claims by the Dalai clique that they pursue not independence, but peaceful dialogue, are nothing but lies.""This has all the more revealed the consistent claims by the Dalai clique that they pursue not independence, but peaceful dialogue, are nothing but lies."
In recent years, Tibetan exiles have accused the Chinese government of trying to eradicate Tibetan culture. The Dalai Lama, who in 1989 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his consistent opposition to the use of violence, has repeatedly called for dialogue with China.
But Mr Wen insisted China was helping to improve the livelihoods of Tibetans. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7300312.stm">Tibetans describe unrest class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7301590.stm">Your pictures: Machu protests
class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7300312.stm">Tibetans describe unrest class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7301590.stm">Your pictures: Machu protests "These claims that the Chinese government is involved in so-called cultural genocide are nothing but lies," he said. Speaking from Dharamsala in northern India, he said his message to Tibetans was to refrain from violence. He said he would step down as leader of the government-in-exile if the violence in his homeland worsened.
The Dalai Lama, who in 1989 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his consistent opposition to the use of violence in the quest for Tibetan self-rule, has repeatedly called for dialogue with China.
He said on Tuesday in Dharamsala in India that he would step down as leader of the government in exile if the violence in his homeland worsened.
"If things are getting out of control, then the option is to completely resign," he said. "This movement is beyond our control.""If things are getting out of control, then the option is to completely resign," he said. "This movement is beyond our control."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the Dalai Lama should be put on trial for his role in the unrest. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang has said the Dalai Lama should be put on trial for his role in the unrest.
The Dalai Lama responded by saying: "Investigate thoroughly... if you want to start investigating from here you are most welcome." The Dalai Lama responded by saying: "Investigate thoroughly... if you want to start investigating from here you are most welcome. Check our various offices."
He denounced the violence and called for an international investigation. He denounced the violence and reaffirmed that he wanted autonomy for Tibet within China, but not outright independence, which he said was "out of the question".
"Don't commit violence, it is not good. Violence is against human nature," he said. "We should not develop anti-Chinese feelings. We must live together side by side." "It is wrong. Don't commit violence, it is not good. Violence is against human nature," he said. "We should not develop anti-Chinese feelings. We must live together side by side."
The BBC's Damian Grammaticas, at the Dalai Lama's news conference, said the spiritual leader accused the Chinese of distorting the number of casualties but could not give his own figure. The spiritual leader accused the Chinese of distorting the number of casualties but could not give his own figure.
ConvoysConvoys
Mr Wen had also said the protesters "wanted to incite the sabotage of the Olympic Games in order to achieve their unspeakable goal". The Games begin on 8 August.Mr Wen had also said the protesters "wanted to incite the sabotage of the Olympic Games in order to achieve their unspeakable goal". The Games begin on 8 August.
There have been no moves so far for an international boycott. European Union ministers have ruled out such a move, saying it would only punish athletes.
But Ma Ying-jeou, the front-runner in Taiwan's presidential election, to be held on Saturday, said he would "not rule out" a boycott if the crackdown worsened.
TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century1950: China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India Q&A: China and TibetInternational reactionTibet adds to Olympic woesTIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century1950: China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India Q&A: China and TibetInternational reactionTibet adds to Olympic woes
There have been no moves so far for an international boycott. On Monday, European Union ministers ruled out such a move, saying it would only punish athletes.
But on Tuesday, Ma Ying-jeou, the front-runner in Taiwan's presidential election, to be held on Saturday, said he would "not rule out" a boycott if the crackdown worsened.
Large numbers of police are patrolling the streets of Lhasa.Large numbers of police are patrolling the streets of Lhasa.
A Chinese deadline for protesters to surrender passed at midnight on Monday (1600 GMT) and there is no immediate word on the military's actions.A Chinese deadline for protesters to surrender passed at midnight on Monday (1600 GMT) and there is no immediate word on the military's actions.
However, the BBC has received reports from Lhasa of the Chinese authorities conducting house-to-house searches and arresting suspected Tibetan protesters as the deadline approached.However, the BBC has received reports from Lhasa of the Chinese authorities conducting house-to-house searches and arresting suspected Tibetan protesters as the deadline approached.
The BBC's Daniel Griffiths, who is close to the border with Tibet in western China, said the situation was extremely tense and he had seen long convoys of military vehicles heading across the mountain passes into Tibet. The BBC's Daniel Griffiths, who is close to the border with Tibet in western China, said he had seen long convoys of military vehicles heading across the mountains into Tibet.
He says there are unconfirmed reports of troops sealing off towns. There are unconfirmed reports of troops sealing off towns.
Demonstrations have spread to Tibetan communities in Gansu and Sichuan provinces.Demonstrations have spread to Tibetan communities in Gansu and Sichuan provinces.
A Chinese source with links to the security forces told the BBC that 600 monks had been flown out of Lhasa to Chengdu, in Sichuan. The report could not be independently verified. A Chinese source with links to the security forces told the BBC that 600 monks had been flown overnight on military planes from Lhasa to Chengdu, the capital of neighbouring Sichuan province. The report could not be independently verified.
Ethnic Tibetans and their supporters have also protested in Sydney, New York, Munich and London. The source was told that the monks were transported because the authorities feared they would become a focus for protests if they stayed in Lhasa.
Police have also stopped BBC journalists from entering the village in which the Dalai Lama was born in north-eastern Tibet.
China says Tibet has always been part of its territory but Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century and many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959.China says Tibet has always been part of its territory but Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century and many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959.
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