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WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Saturday urged the Chinese government to "exercise restraint" in responding to protests in Tibet and called for the release of detained monks.
Rice said she was "deeply saddened" that Friday's protests "resulted in the loss of lives" and expressed concern "that the violence appears to be continuing."
"I also am concerned by reports of a sharply increased police and military presence in and around Lhasa," she said in a statement.
"We call on the Chinese government to exercise restraint in dealing with these protests, and we strongly urge all sides to refrain from violence," Rice said.
"We urge China to respect the fundamental and universally recognised right of all of its citizens to peacefully express their political and religious views, and we call on China to release monks and others who have been detained solely for the peaceful expression of their views," she said.
Rice recalled that President George W. Bush has urged Beijing to engage in "substantive dialogue" with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, and through his representatives "so that long-standing issues with regard to Tibet may be resolved"
"We also urge China to address policies in Tibetan areas that have created tensions due to their impact on Tibetan religion, culture, and livelihoods," she said.
Tibet's exiled government said Saturday that about 30 people had been killed during unrest in Lhasa, as Chinese troops locked down the city amid fierce international scrutiny ahead of the Olympics.
Witnesses said tanks and soldiers were out in force in Lhasa following Friday's protests, the biggest against China's controversial rule of Tibet since 1989, as authorities set a Monday deadline for perpetrators to surrender. - AFP/ac
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