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Dalai Lama blamed for Tibet 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 recent violence in Tibet's main city, Lhasa.
Speaking at the close of parliament, Mr Wen also said the exiled Tibetan leader's claim of "cultural genocide" in Tibet was nothing but lies. 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.
China's response to the violence had been restrained, the premier said. Mr Wen said the protests were intended to "sabotage" the Beijing Olympics.
China says 13 people were killed by rioters in Lhasa. Tibetan exiles say at least 80 protesters were killed in a crackdown by Chinese security forces.China says 13 people were killed by rioters in Lhasa. Tibetan exiles say at least 80 protesters were killed in a crackdown by Chinese security forces.
A spokesman for the Dalai Lama said Mr Wen's accusations were "baseless".
There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique Wen Jiabao Send us your comments 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.There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique Wen Jiabao Send us your comments 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.
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.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.
The demonstrations have also spread to Tibetan communities in Gansu and Sichuan provinces.
'Seeking independence''Seeking independence'
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.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.He defended China's handling of the violence, accusing protesters of robbery, arson and violence, and said Tibetan exiles had instigated the violence.
Tibetans describe unrest "There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique," he said.Tibetans describe unrest "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.In recent years, Tibetan exiles have accused the Chinese government of trying to eradicate Tibetan culture.
As Tibet has developed, Han Chinese have poured in and now dominate the economy, while the authorities continue to control aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans are now a minority in Lhasa.
Olympic 'sabotage'
But Mr Wen insisted China was helping to improve the livelihoods of Tibetans.But Mr Wen insisted China was helping to improve the livelihoods of Tibetans.
"These claims that the Chinese government is involved in so-called cultural genocide are nothing but lies," he said."These claims that the Chinese government is involved in so-called cultural genocide are nothing but lies," he said.
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
The Chinese premier accused the protesters of trying to sabotage the Beijing Olympic Games, which begin on 8 August. Mr Wen 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.
On Monday, European Union ministers ruled out a boycott over Tibet, saying it would only punish athletes. 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.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on both Chinese forces and demonstrators to show restraint. 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.
In Tibet, large numbers of police are patrolling the streets of the regional capital, Lhasa, and at midnight on Monday (1600 GMT) a Chinese deadline for protesters to surrender passed. A spokesman for the Dalai Lama said from Dharamsala in India that Mr Wen's accusations of organised violence were "baseless".
But the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says people outside of China have been placing far more emphasis on the deadline than is the case inside the country. Tenzin Taklha told Reuters news agency the protests had "started off with just one or two incidents. Because of technology, because of word of mouth, word quickly spread. This was very spontaneous."
In effect there has not been a deadline, our correspondent says, but instead a rolling crackdown with Chinese security forces moving through the city, going door to door, to root out and detain the instigators of the unrest. Convoys
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.
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.
He says there are unconfirmed reports of troops sealing off towns.
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, on Sunday.
Ethnic Tibetans and their supporters have also protested in Sydney, New York, Munich and London.
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.