PRC blasts Dalai Lama as torch arrives

In the Indonesian capital Jakarta, about 70 people, including Buddhist monks, rallied in front of Chinese embassy pressing for freedom in Tibet.

Days of monk-led marches in Tibet's capital Lhasa turned into a citywide riot on March 14 in which Chinese shops were looted and burned and cars overturned. The government says the violence killed 18 civilians and at least one police officer.

After the Lhasa riot, China ordered tens of thousands of troops into Tibet and Tibetan-populated areas of neighbouring provinces to quash further protests.

Rights groups and Tibet activists abroad fear widespread detentions and abuse. China has banned foreign reporters from travelling independently to Tibet and Tibetan-populated parts of western China, making it difficult to verify claims.

Chinese TV and news reports have focused on the Lhasa mob brutality, but have avoided addressing questions about what lay behind the rampage and other protests.

Instead, the government has blamed the Dalai Lama and his supporters for trying to disrupt the Olympics.

Dalai Lama spokesman Tenzin Taklha said China's claim it has evidence of the monk's complicity in the Tibet protests was unfounded.

Many Chinese, taking a cue from the government, have criticised foreign media for anti-China bias. Since March 21, CNN's Beijing bureau has received upwards of 100 calls and faxes per day, including demands that the correspondents leave China, a staff member said anonymously.



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