China committing cultural genocide in Tibet : Dalai

Reacting strongly to the violent crushing of anti-China protests in Tibet, the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama accused China of committing cultural genocide and imposing a rule of terror in Tibet.

"We want an international investigation into the recent happenings and the actions of Chinese authorities in the past few days," the Dalai Lama said here while speaking to reporters in this northern Indian hill town.

"China is committing cultural genocide in Tibet. The authorities are also imposing restrictions on education in monasteries," he said.

The Dalai Lama said, according his sources from Tibet, around 100 people may have been killed by security forces in the past few days. The Chinese though maintain only 10 people could have been killed.

"It is the moral responsibility of the world to remind China of the human rights violations in Tibet, besides threat to the ancient heritage of Tibet at the hands of the Chinese," he said.

He dismissed Chinese allegations that he was behind the separatist movement in Tibet, saying: "I have no power over protesters in Tibet."

"I feel a little helpless and worried as the Chinese deadline to end protests ends Monday, or else it has warned of dire consequences."

"Stability in Tibet must come from the heart and not from fiscal control alone," he said adding that the new generation of Tibetans is losing its patience with the Chinese.

He made a dig at India by saying "India is sometimes too cautious on Tibet".

Maintaining his middle-path policy with China, he said: "I reiterate the demand of autonomy for Tibet and not independence. Only Beijing doesn't seem to understand this even though the entire world does."

The Dalai Lama said he wants the Beijing Olympics to go ahead and ruled out a boycott by the international community.