This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7244137.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Olympic boycott has 'no purpose' | Olympic boycott has 'no purpose' |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Any call for a boycott of this summer's Beijing Games would be counter-productive, the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has said. | Any call for a boycott of this summer's Beijing Games would be counter-productive, the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has said. |
Her comments come after a group of Nobel Prize winners, international athletes and politicians wrote a letter to the Chinese president. | Her comments come after a group of Nobel Prize winners, international athletes and politicians wrote a letter to the Chinese president. |
It asks him to use his influence in Sudan to end the conflict in Darfur. | It asks him to use his influence in Sudan to end the conflict in Darfur. |
Tessa Jowell said calls for a boycott WEre a "great pity" and Britain was still committed to attending the games. | |
The Nobel laureates' letter says Beijing has to ensure its actions live up to the ideals of peace and international co-operation. | |
But Ms Jowell told The Times newspaper: "The world has known for the last seven years that Beijing would host the Olympics. | But Ms Jowell told The Times newspaper: "The world has known for the last seven years that Beijing would host the Olympics. |
"Most progressive governments accept that there are wholly unacceptable aspects of Chinese policy but that did not stop the International Olympics Committee (IOC) awarding them the Games. | "Most progressive governments accept that there are wholly unacceptable aspects of Chinese policy but that did not stop the International Olympics Committee (IOC) awarding them the Games. |
"A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity. This doesn't mean, however, we should we distracted from the urgency of Darfur." | "A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity. This doesn't mean, however, we should we distracted from the urgency of Darfur." |
Ostracised | Ostracised |
Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing. | Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing. |
In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council. | In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council. |
As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur. | As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur. |
On Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, the open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president, Hu Jintao. | On Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, the open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president, Hu Jintao. |