Cuba condemns criticism of China on Tibet

HAVANA, March 23 (UPI) -- Cuba has condemned calls for a possible boycott of the Olympic Games in Beijing following a crackdown by the Chinese government amid protests in Tibet.

Officials in the fellow communist Cuban government issued a statement saying calls to protest or boycott the games were an effort "aimed at undermining this noble undertaking," Granma newspaper reported Sunday.

Chinese officials say 16 people have been killed in protests in Tibet against Chinese rule.

However, Tibetans say that death toll is closer to 100.