"Eighty Killed in Tibetan Unrest"

At least 80 people have been killed in unrest following protests by Tibetans against Chinese rule, the Tibetan government in exile says.

Indian-based officials said the figure was confirmed by several sources, even though China put the death toll at 10. The Dalai Lama condemned China's "rule of terror" in Tibet and accused it of "cultural genocide". Lhasa, Tibet's main city, was said to be quiet on Sunday, with Chinese troops out in force on the streets.
Hong Kong Cable TV reported that about 200 military vehicles, each carrying 40 to 60 armed soldiers, had driven into the city. Loudspeakers broadcast messages, such as: "Discern between enemies and friends, maintain order."
Source: news.bbc.co.uk via deng

In answer to China's statement yesterday that Tibet unrest will have no impact on Beijing Olympics or torch relay, Tibetan exiles in Japan hoisted an alternative Olympic torch on Sunday in a bid to ramp up pressure on China over its crackdown on their homeland before the world's athletes head to Beijing in August. China's communist government is hoping Beijing's hosting of the Olympics in August will boost its popularity at home as well as its image abroad.
Meanwhile, Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, called on China "to exercise restraint in dealing with the protests", while the state department issued a travel alert for Americans in the region.
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