Foreign nations support China's handling of Lhasa riot_English

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Foreign nations voiced their support for China's legitimate actions to handle the violence in Lhasa in recent days, expressing their opposition to the secessionist activities and the politicization of the Beijing Olympics.

According to a press release issued here Thursday from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Russian, Belarusian and Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesmen all expressed their support for China's efforts to stop the unlawful activities in an aim to restore local peace and stability and their confidence in China's capability of hosting the Olympic Games.

Pakistani and Mauritania foreign ministries issued statements on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively applauding Beijing's commitment to host the Olympic event, stressing that their countries oppose to any attempts to sabotage or politicize the Beijing Olympics, as well as the conspiracies to undermine China's sovereignty and territory integrity.

Singapore's Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan said, "It is vital to keep sporting competitions and politics separate. We must not let politics obstruct the sports."

On the same day, Lesotho Foreign Minister Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa said in his meeting with Chinese ambassador that Lesotho will back China's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territory integrity, stressing that the handling of the Lhasa riot was China's internal affairs and no other countries have the right to make irresponsible remarks on the issue.

The press release also said that ambassadors in Beijing from Arabian nations all expressed their shock to the violence that occurred in Lhasa, saying that their countries support China's approaches to safeguard national security and restore social stability, and would continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

On the same day, Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee urged Dalai Lama and his followers to stay away from any political activities.

Cote d'Ivoire's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa and the Republic of Congo (ROC) Foreign Affairs Minister Basile Ikouebe all expressed their firm supports for China and its efforts to hold a successful Olympic Games in Beijing, the press release added.

Bush says Olympics are about athletes not politics

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush is not to cancel his attendance at the Beijing Olympics this summer, said the White House here on Thursday.

"The president's position about the Olympics has been that this is not a political event but a chance for athletes to compete at the top of their class, " said presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino, asked whether the president would rethink his plans to go to this summer's Olympics after the recent riot in Tibet. Full story

Overseas Chinese groups, Chinese-language media condemn riots in Tibet

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- More overseas Chinese groups in South Korea, the United States, Mexico and Egypt as well as Chinese-language newspapers have condemned the riots in Lhasa, the capital city of China's Tibet autonomous region.

Fifteen overseas Chinese associations, including the council for the promotion of peaceful national reunification in South Korea, stated Thursday that Tibet is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. The recent violent acts of beatings, smashing, looting and arson were organized, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai Lama clique, they said. Full story

Some foreign newspapers, China-friendly people condemn riot in Lhasa

BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Some foreign newspapers, overseas Chinese groups and people who are friendly to China have issued reports or statements recently to condemn the riot that rocked Lhasa, the capital city of China's Tibet autonomous region. Full story