EU says Olympic boycott over Tibet not right answer

By Manca Ulcar

BRDO, Slovenia (Reuters) - A boycott of the Olympic Games over China's response to unrest in Tibet would not be the right answer, the European Union said on Monday, urging the Beijing government and protesters to show restraint.

"We condemn violence. But on the question of boycotting the Games, nobody around the table today believes that a boycott is the right answer," EU Sports Commissioner Jan Figel told a news conference after a meeting of the bloc's 27 sports ministers and members of the International Olympic Committee.

China, which has sent in troops to enforce control in the regional capital Lhasa, said on Monday the violent protests by Tibetans were organised by followers of the Dalai Lama seeking to derail the Beijing Olympics in August.

The EU repeated its call for "restraint on all sides".

"We urge the Chinese authorities to refrain from using force against those involved in unrest and call on demonstrators to desist from violence," it said in a statement later on Monday.

The upsurge in violence since last Monday -- the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule over the Himalayan region -- has been accompanied by a spate of protests and attacks on Chinese embassies abroad.

PEACEFUL RESOLUTION URGED

"The EU firmly supports peaceful reconciliation between Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama and his representatives. The EU urges the Chinese government to address the concerns of Tibetans with regard to issues of human rights," the EU statement said.