Feinstein to S.F.: Don't politicize torch

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is calling on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors not to use an Olympic torch visit to condemn Chinese rule of Tibet.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday that Feinstein, California's senior U.S. senator and a former mayor of the city, said publicly embarrassing the Chinese government during what is intended to be a good will gesture April 9 could strain later negotiations.

"I have spent 15 years talking to the Chinese, trying to get some accommodation for Tibet," said Feinstein, who a decade ago hand-delivered a letter from Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to then-Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, urging the two to meet.

She said allowing protesters in "free speech zones," at the start and end of the torch run, is appropriate.

However, Supervisor Chris Daly is calling for the city to condemn China's human rights record by backing a Tibetan Freedom Torch run, which is scheduled to hit San Francisco a day before the Olympic torch does.