The EU Parliament will call on European leaders to boycott the Olympics today. German chancellor Angela Merkel has already said she will not attend, and UK prime minister Gordon Brown announced today he will boycott the opening ceremony.

The European Parliament is expected to call on EU leaders to boycott the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony.

MEPs want China to start a dialogue with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama by August.

They vote on a draft resolution later Thursday condemning China's crackdown on last month's protests in Tibet.

It also calls for a UN inquiry into the events. Although non-binding, it will increase pressure on EU leaders to take a tougher stance towards China.

The draft resolution also urges China not to misuse the 2008 Olympic Games by arresting dissidents, journalists and human rights activists in order to prevent demonstrations which might prove embarrassing to the authorities.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk