Olympic Official Criticizes Anti-Chinese Protests
Buddhist Monks Continue to Protest in China
By Maureen Fan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, April 9, 2008; 1:44 PM
BEIJING, April 9 -- A high-ranking Olympic official declared Wednesday that anti-Chinese protests during the torch relay had been "unacceptable," while acknowledging that he had watered down an official statement urging China to settle the conflict in Tibet.
Meanwhile, a fresh protest by Buddhist monks during a government-organized media tour in Gansu province, near Tibet, further embarrassed Chinese officials. Chinese officials have been outraged over protests in London and Paris during the torch rally. But those protests have also put an uncomfortable spotlight on Olympic organizers, who have made a steadfast attempt to avoid political issues.
