China denies using deadly force in Tibet amid mounting pressure

China faced mounting global pressure over Tibet on Monday amid exiles' claims that hundreds of people may have died in a crackdown on protesters, even though Beijing denied using deadly force.

In its first official account of the unrest in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, China blamed protesters who rose up against Chinese rule in what has turned into a public relations nightmare for Beijing ahead of the Olympic Games.

"They either burned or hacked to death 13 innocent civilians," Tibet government chairman Qiangba Puncog told reporters in Beijing, adding Chinese forces had not fired weapons at protesters.

"Throughout the process, (security forces) did not carry or use any lethal weapons."

However the Tibetan leadership in exile in India said about 100 people, and possibly "hundreds", had been killed in a widespread crackdown in Lhasa and throughout the Himalayan region.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday that protests over China's rule of Tibet had spread from the Himalayan region to other areas of the country.

China also has evidence that groups aligned with the Dalai Lama were responsible for the deadly unrest in Tibet, Wen said.

He made the comments as China's annual session of parliament, the National People's Congress, came to an end after a two-week meeting that saw President Hu Jintao and Wen re-elected for five more years.

About 100 pro-Tibet protesters clashed with police outside the Chinese consulate in Sydney on Tuesday as an Australian politician called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics over the China's crackdown in Tibet.

The protesters in Sydney burned Chinese flags and called for an end to violence in Tibet. Police restrained several people who charged towards the consulate gates.

Exiled representatives of Tibet in India said 80 people were killed in Lhasa last week during protests against Chinese rule, but Chinese authorities said they had exercised restraint in their response to burning and looting, and only 13 people had died.

In Canberra, Andrew Bartlett, a senator from the minor Australian Democrats party, urged athletes and sport fans to shun the Olympics due to the events in Tibet.

"We can't just turn a blind eye just because we all love our sport," Bartlett said. "We've all got a role to play here, and we've all got a role to play in speaking out about these things."

But the Australia-Tibet Council said it did not support an Olympics boycott, while the Australian government, which supports China's sovereignty over Tibet, has also played down suggestions the latest incidents will have an impact on the Olympics.

I was just in the crowd and got the latest info! Chengdu's military district has already gone on highest alert, and troops have now been dispatched toward Tibet. Wuhouci Rd. going both north and south have been completely sealed off, cars aren't allowed in. Ximianqiao St. going both east and west has been completely sealed off, cars aren't being allowed in. Shuhan Rd. and another side street are completely filled with police cars which have stopped all traffic. A rough estimate, there's over 200 police, and over 100 police cars of every kind. There's also around 50 police motorbikes, patrolling the streets non-stop in formations of groups of three. Where Wuhouci Rd. E meets Wuhouci Rd. W, there are also fire trucks. Both Wuhouci and Ximianqiao streets have completely become pedestrian streets, not a single car on either. Walking down the streets all you see are flashing police lights. Right now, you do not want to go into crowded areas and start pushing around. The tons of explosives they shipped here to Chengdu from Tibet aren't to be seen now, they've disappeared. Police sent out an internal notice warning a few days ago, that [bleep]ists had entered Chengdu in an attempt to carry out terrorist strikes. These people have spent years overseas studying demolitions and are highly skilled at it, with cruel methods. Experienced police from all over Chengdu have been transferred here.

Over 500 people have already been used to set up an emergency inspection working group, and at present nobody has been arrested. It's advised that everyone do their best to not go outside over the next few days and prevent the occurrence of any accidents. Starting yesterday, Chengdu police and the army have already locked off parts of the city and are doing inspections. Keep your activities away from areas with large numbers of buildings; if possible, please stay at home!