Bush to attend Olympic ceremony

US President George W Bush will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the White House says.

Spokeswoman Dana Perino said Mr Bush will also visit South Korea and Thailand as part of the trip.

Human rights groups and opposition politicians including presidential hopeful Barack Obama had urged Mr Bush to consider boycotting the ceremony.

Beijing's rights record has come under intense scrutiny since Tibetan protests were suppressed in March.

The army and police used force to quell the biggest demonstration in Tibetan communities for a generation.

Beijing says rioters killed about 20 people in the unrest, but exiled Tibetan groups accuse security forces of killing scores of peaceful protesters.

Several world leaders said they were considering boycotting the 8 August opening ceremony over Beijing's actions.

While it was understood that Mr Bush would go to the Games, no firm plans for the opening had been announced.

The president has always maintained that the Olympics are a sporting spectacle and should not be politicised.

Mr Bush and his wife, Laura, will also meet Chinese President Hu Jintao as part of their visit to China, the White House said.