UN urges restraint, sees little role so far in Tibet

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
UN leaders said Monday they saw little reason so far for the United Nations to wade into the dispute over China's crackdown on protesters in Tibet, despite the Dalai Lama's call for an international inquiry led by the body. No one raised the issue Monday at a Security Council meeting and lunch with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Afterward, however, Ban urged Chinese authorities to exercise "restraint" in Tibet - his strongest message on the violence to date - and did not rule out a future UN role. The attitudes of UN leaders range from deepening concern to complete disregard of the crackdown on protesting Buddhist monks and other Tibetan activists. The views an unspoken acknowledgment of China's status as one of the council's five veto-wielding members and an emerging world superpower playing host to the summer Olympic games in Beijing.