Dalai Lama Calls for Tibet Probe

The Dalai Lama today called for an international investigation into China and accused it of engaging in "cultural genocide" in Tibet, the AP reports. The spiritual leader said 80 people have been killed in recent protests. Chinese soldiers and tanks patrolled the streets of the Tibetan capital of Lhasa today, which appeared quiet in images from Hong Kong TV. Condoleezza Rice called for "restraint" on the part of Beijing.

"There is an ancient cultural heritage that is facing serious danger," the Dalai Lama said. "Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place." Beijing says 10 people have been killed since protests began last week, embarrassing the government just two weeks before the start of celebrations for the Olympics. Meanwhile, protesters clashed with troops yesterday in a second Tibetan city in Gansu province, the New York Tmes reports. (More Lhasa stories.)