China attacks congressional resolution

BEIJING, July 31 (UPI) -- China Thursday dismissed a U.S. congressional resolution on Beijing's human rights abuses, passed on a 419-1 vote, as the work of a few anti-China lawmakers.

"The resolution exposed the malicious intention of a handful of anti-China lawmakers to politicize, interrupt and sabotage the (Olympic) Games," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao, Xinhua reported.

"Such a deed itself is blasphemy to the Olympic spirit and is against the common wishes of people all around the world, including people of the United States."

The resolution demanding an immediate end to the human rights abuses was approved Wednesday by a 419-1 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. It comes as Beijing prepares to host the Summer Olympics starting Aug. 8.

During floor debate on the resolution, House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, "With passage of this resolution, the House will speak with one voice about the conditions in China and Tibet on the eve of the Olympic Games."

U.S. President George Bush is to travel to Beijing next week to attend the Games' opening ceremonies.