China under growing pressure over Tibet

BEIJING, March 21 (UPI) -- China is facing mounting international pressure to halt the violence in Tibet even as Tibetan protests against Chinese rule spread to other regions.

China admitted police in Sichuan province wounded four demonstrators in self-defense. It had maintained its security forces had been restrained in the use of lethal force.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to resume dialogue with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who lives in self-imposed exile in India, The New York Times reported.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a similar plea.

The Times reported a group of Nobel laureates condemned the violence against the protesters and asked China to halt its "unwarranted campaign" against the Dalai Lama, a fellow Nobel Peace laureate.

The Dalai Lama has said he is willing to go to Beijing to meet with Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao if China is ready for a Tibet dialogue, other reports said.

However, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman repeated earlier stand that the Dalai Lama must first give up his stance for Tibet independence and stop separatist activities, Xinhua reported.

Other reports said the Dalai Lama's "middle path" is also coming under attack from younger Tibetans who feel the strategy hasn't worked in achieving their goal of Tibetan independence.