President Bush Urges China to Start Tibet Talks

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Mr Bush called Hu Jintao raise his concerns about the situation in Tibet and to urge him to ease access for journalists and diplomats as well.

Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of being behind the demonstrations, the biggest against China for 20 years, which have left several people dead. The Dalai Lama has criticised violent protests and urged dialogue with China. The anti-China protests began on 10 March and developed into violent rioting in Lhasa. China says 19 people have been killed by rioters incited by Tibetan separatists. The Tibetan government-in-exile says about 140 people have been killed in a crackdown on protesters by Chinese security forces.

Delayed response

Foreign journalists have largely been blocked from covering the unrest, though China allowed a group of foreign reporters into the Tibetan capital of Lhasa on Wednesday for the first time since the violence began. The government said the group would be able to interview "victims of criminal acts".

The reporters were taken to Potala Square, below the traditional seat of Tibetan rulers, Potala Palace, which reopened Wednesday for the first time since March 14. They also visited a part of the town where shops had been burned during the rioting.

"The president raised his concerns about the situation in Tibet and encouraged the Chinese government to engage in substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

She said Mr. Bush had also called on China "to allow access for journalists and diplomats".

Mr. Bush's delay to respond has been interpreted as a measure of how delicate relations are between the US and China, two countries whose huge economies are deeply interlinked.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has also called for dialogue over Tibet, adding he had not ruled out boycotting the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games being held in China in August.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has also described international concern about the violence in Tibet as justified and proper, but he has spoken out against an Olympic boycott.

The White House has said that Mr. Bush will attend the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Update: China has suceeded today in curbing the flow of Chinese crackdown information out of Tibet through India, which was taking place especially via e-mails and mobile phones. These pieces of news were put together by the Dalai Lama's advisors for distribution to the Western World.