Chinese troops pour into Tibet
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ZHONGDIAN, CHINA — China has blanketed Tibetan areas with a huge buildup of troops, turning small towns across much of western China into armed encampments.
Hundreds of paramilitary troops aboard at least 80 trucks were seen traveling along the main road winding through the mountains into southeastern Tibet. Others patrolled streets wearing riot gear and carrying rifles in Tiger Leaping Gorge, a tourist town in Yunnan province on the border with Tibet.
The Dalai Lama on Thursday offered to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders, reiterating that he was not seeking Tibetan independence.
China has ignored calls for such dialogue, accusing the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader and his supporters of organizing violence in hopes of sabotaging the Beijing Olympics and promoting independence.
The White House said China’s crackdown in Tibet was not cause for President Bush to cancel his attendance at the Olympics in August.
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