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China blames Dalai Lama for riots China blames Dalai Lama for riots
(40 minutes 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 on the last day of parliament, Mr Wen 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.
Mr Wen said the protests were intended to "sabotage" the Beijing Olympics. The Dalai Lama denied he was behind the unrest and said that he would resign as spiritual leader if violence worsened.
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 died.
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.
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.
'Seeking independence' 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'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.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7300312.stm">Tibetans describe unrest class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7301590.stm">Your pictures: Machu protests "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."
Tibetans describe unrestYour pictures: Machu protests
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.
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.
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 Tibet's spiritual leader 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."
Convoys
Mr Wen 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.
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
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.
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.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.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.
A spokesman for the Dalai Lama said from Dharamsala in India that Mr Wen's accusations of organised violence were "baseless".
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."
Convoys
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 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.He says 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, on Sunday. 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.
Ethnic Tibetans and their supporters have also protested in Sydney, New York, Munich and London.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.