China tells critics to back off ahead of Olympics

By Chris Buckley

BEIJING (Reuters) - China warned foreign groups on Wednesday not to use the Summer Olympics to pressure Beijing, presenting the nation as a "responsible" but poor power eager to end rows over trade, pollution and human rights.

China has been buffeted ahead of the Games by worries over dirty air and international protests over human rights, Tibet, Sudan's Darfur and other controversies that often irk Chinese diplomats.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told critics to back off, accusing them of violating the Olympic Games charter keeping politics away from sports.

"I don't believe that the international community wants to politicize the Beijing Olympics. That's a handful of individuals and forces extremely unfriendly to China and bearing massive prejudices," Yang told reporters.

China welcomed "well-intentioned" criticism of the Games, he said. "But those who want to tarnish China -- and hear me, I said China -- won't succeed."

The scholarly-looking diplomat made the comments in a news conference coinciding with the annual national parliament, and carefully answered questions on the United States, Japan and European Union, arguing that China wanted cooperation, not contention.

But his comments also came after a slew of news that underscored the headaches China faces in holding the huge, live-to-air sporting spectacle that starts on August 8.

In February, Oscar-winning film director Steven Spielberg quit as an artistic adviser to the Games, claiming that China had failed to use enough sway in Sudan to seek an end to bloodshed in Darfur.