80 people dead in 'cultural genocide'

TIBET is facing "cultural genocide" by Chinese authorities as protests continue against almost 60 years of occupation, according to the Dalai Lama.

The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet also accused China of a "rule of terror" and said at least 80 Tibetans had died in violence on Friday and another 72 were injured. China had previously claimed just 10 had died, in fires started by the rioters.

Clashes yesterday spread into neighbouring Chinese provinces with large Tibetan populations as the deadline by which protesters were instructed to turn themselves in came closer. It expires at midnight tonight.

The Dalai Lama, speaking from the base of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India, called for an international investigation.

He said: "Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some cultural genocide is taking place. Whether the (Chinese] government there admits or not, there is a problem … (an] ancient nation with ancient cultural heritage is actually dying.

"Some respected international organisation can find out what the situation is in Tibet and what is the cause. Please investigate."

China blocked internet users from accessing video sharing website YouTube after footage of showing foreign news reports about the Lhasa demonstrations, montages of photos, and scenes from Tibet-related protests abroad was uploaded.

The government of the country is trying to present a polished image in advance of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August.

Foreign leaders yesterday condemned the Chinese crackdown on protesters.

Mark Malloch Brown, a Foreign Office minister, warned China not to repeat its 1989 response to protesters in Tiananmen Square which led to the deaths of hundreds of students.

Lord Brown said: "On Saturday morning, in the China Daily (newspaper], the only reference to what was happening (in Tibet] was that it was all the Dalai Lama's fault.

"That is not going to work in a country which is about to host thousands of journalists and have hundreds of millions of viewers of its Olympics. It's going to have to engage openly with this problem for its own reputation's sake."

In London yesterday, Tibetan exiles based in the UK vented their anger against China. A group of about 40 gathered outside the Chinese embassy in London, with some banging on the door in protest.

The Free Tibet Campaign said they expected larger numbers to attend again today. A protest at the embassy has been timed to coincide with the deadline set by the Chinese authorities over Tibetan unrest.

The German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, called on his Chinese counterpart to end the violence in Tibet and to allow the greatest possible transparency on reporting events in the region.

In a long telephone call early yesterday, Steinmeier appealed to the Chinese foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, to find a peaceful solution to the unrest in Tibet and expressed the concerns of the German government over the recent violence in the province.

Austria's foreign minister called for an immediate end to the violence and bloodshed in Tibet. Ursula Plassnik said that Austria was deeply disturbed by the recent human rights violations in Tibet.

She also urged Beijing to begin a direct dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama said Beijing deserved to host the Olympic Games, but added: "The international community has the moral responsibility to remind the Chinese government in order to be a good host of the Olympic Games."

The Chinese authorities have portrayed the Dalai Lama as an aristocrat trying to break up China – Tibet makes up one-eighth of the total landmass of a China including Tibet.

As the violence spread out from the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, there were reports that Tibetans had thrown petrol bombs in the town of Aba in the neighbouring Chinese province of Sichuan. They were also said to have burned a police station and vehicles during clashes.

Protests over the weekend also spread to a Tibetan area of the Gansu province after mainly peaceful protests in Lhasa were confronted by Chinese troops.

The Dalai Lama said peaceful protest by Tibetans was "right" as an expression of their "deep resentment".

He added: "Generally, Tibetans are following, I think quite sincerely, non-violent principles. Of course individual human beings, when emotions come out of control, then certain sorts of violent actions are possible. But my principle, everybody knows, is completely committed to non-violence."

In Paris yesterday, police used tear gas to repel hundreds of pro-Tibet protesters gathered outside the Chinese embassy. One protester climbed the front of the embassy building and took down the red Chinese flag hanging there. The man tried to hang a Tibetan flag in its place, but was stopped when a police officer snapped the flag pole.

Some protesters had Tibetan flags over their shoulders; others carried placards urging an end to killings in Tibet and expressed support for the Dalai Lama. Several arrests were made.

In recent years, the Dalai Lama has pulled back from calling for full independence for Tibet and instead simply supported more autonomy – this has been called his "middle-way" approach.

Tsering Tashi, the Dalai Lama's London representative, said they were worried about what would happen after tonight's deadline to protesters and said there needed to be an international presence in Tibet.

He said: "What's happening shows the deep-rooted resentment of the oppressive Chinese rule of Tibet. To brand protesters as criminals is ridiculous. The Tibetan people are all part of one human family on this Earth and we ask the world to come to the rescue of Tibetan people.

"Even the Chinese people want more freedom. This is the right moment for the Chinese government to respond to the Dalai Lama's middle-way approach."

The unrest in Tibet began on 10 March on the anniversary of a 1959 uprising against Chinese rule of the region. Tibet was effectively independent for decades before the Chinese People's Liberation Army entered the province in 1950.