Mentioning by name US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who slammed China's "oppression" in Tibet, the article said: "The Lhasa riots were violent acts premeditated, organised and masterminded by the Dalai clique," a reference to Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

"This is an undeniable fact witnessed by the local residents and foreign tourists," the commentary on state news agency Xinhua said, also dismissing calls to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

"Pelosi and other congressmen did nothing to condemn those who committed beating, smashing, robbery and arson in Lhasa, nor did they denounce Dalai and his followers for masterminding and organising the riots," it added.

Pelosi, meeting the Dalai Lama last month in his exiled home in the Indian hill town of Dharamshala, had said: "Speaking for myself, I would say if freedom-loving people throughout the world do not speak out against China's oppression in Tibet, we have lost our moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world."

Beijing has faced international criticism over its crackdown on protests in Tibet against Chinese rule that began on March 10 and spread to other areas of China with Tibetan populations.

Exiled Tibetan leaders say more than 150 people have been killed in the unrest, triggered by what Tibetans say has been nearly 60 years of repression under Chinese rule.

China insists its security forces have killed no-one while trying to quell the protests. However it says Tibetan "rioters" have killed 20 people.

On Pelosi and US lawmakers, the commentary said: "They put pressure on the Chinese government and people. This cannot but prompt people with a sense of justice to ask what their criterion for right and wrong is."

The lengthy 600-word commentary, entitled "Prejudice cannot take the place of facts," was released as anti-China protests erupted in Paris around the Olympic torch relay ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.

It also defended Beijing's actions in putting down the protests.

"The truth is, normal life was resumed in Lhasa after the Chinese government took appropriate actions according to law," the unsigned commentary continued, saying more than 100 countries had supported its actions in Tibet -- proof, it said, that "the international community sides with China on the issue."

The editorial also said China would not waver in its stance that it would talk to the Dalai Lama, but only if he abandoned his demand Tibet be independent from China and stopped plotting "violent crimes in Tibet and other regions."

The Dalai Lama, 72, has repeatedly said he wants autonomy and not independence for the region he fled in 1959 after a failed uprising.

Saying the issue could harm US-China relations, the commentary said of Pelosi and pro-Tibetan lawmakers in Washington: "When they openly encouraged violence by Tibet separatists, people cannot but ask whether Pelosi and others have conscience.

"The Chinese government, however, will never bow to outside pressure. No attempts to force the Chinese government to make concession to those who split the country and undermine national unity will ever succeed."

The Chinese, keen to show their best face ahead of the Games, have insisted they are seeking to avoid heavy-handed tactics to suppress the worst protests against their rule in Tibet in nearly 20 years.

earlier related report
China slams proposed US House resolution on Tibet
China on Monday attacked a proposed new US Congressional resolution on the Tibet crisis as one-sided, and urged American lawmakers to stop interfering in the issue.

A Chinese foreign ministry statement said a resolution tabled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week ignored "criminal acts" that it said were orchestrated by the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama.

"We advise the US Congress to respect facts, discard one-sidedness (and) clearly see the real face of the Dalai Lama clique," said the statement posted on the ministry website.

The US Congress should "stop pushing forward resolutions dealing with Tibet that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and harm Sino-US ties," it added.

Last Thursday, Pelosi tabled a resolution calling on Beijing to end its crackdown on peaceful protests in Tibet and begin a dialogue with the Dalai Lama to address the grievances of the Tibetan people.

Beijing has blamed the Dalai Lama, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner, for widespread unrest in Tibet that China says has killed 20 people, mainly in riots last month in the regional capital of Lhasa.

Exiled Tibetan leaders, however, say at least 150 people have died in the Chinese crackdown on the demonstrations, which spread to Tibetan populated regions around China.

"A small number of US congressmen have raised this resolution and have refused to condemn the smashing, looting and burning riots in Lhasa," the ministry statement said.

"They also do not condemn the behind-the-scenes organisation of these violent criminal acts by the Dalai Lama clique."

China would hold talks with the Dalai Lama only after he ended his activities aimed at Tibetan independence and "stops the current incitement of violent crimes and disturbing Beijing Olympic activities," the statement said.

The Dalai Lama has denied seeking independence or playing any role in the recent unrest which began May 10, the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.

Subsequent Congressional resolutions have included one that would bar US President George W. Bush from attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August.

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