( dpa ) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned her Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, to urge restraint on the crackdown on protestors in Tibet, the White House said Thursday.
Rice spoke with Yang Wednesday night "to very directly reiterate our views and concerns about the situation and told the Chinese that we would urge restraint in dealing with protesters, to refrain from violence," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
"We're going to keep a very close eye on what's happening over there," Perino added. "We're concerned about innocent people's safety and well-being, especially because we believe that everyone should have the right to peacefully assemble and express their views."
Thousands of Tibetans have taken to the streets since March 10 to protest Chinese rule to mark the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising.
China has denied using deadly force to quell the unrest despite a report that 18 Tibetans, including an 8-year-old child, were shot dead by paramilitary police in the south-western province of Sichuan.
The United States wants the Chinese government to open dialogue with Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to bring an end to the violence. The Dalai Lama has expressed a willingness to talk to the Chinese but he has been rebuffed.