Foreign nations voiced their support for China's legitimate actions to handle the violence in Lhasa in recent days, expressing their opposition to the secessionist activities and the politicization of the Beijing Olympics.

According to a press release issued in Beijing on Thursday from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Russian, Belarusian and Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesmen all expressed their support for China's efforts to stop the unlawful activities in an aim to restore local peace and stability and their confidence in China's capability of hosting the Olympic Games.

Pakistani and Mauritania foreign ministries issued statements on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively applauding Beijing's commitment to host the Olympic event, stressing that their countries oppose to any attempts to sabotage or politicize the Beijing Olympics, as well as the conspiracies to undermine China's sovereignty and territory integrity.

Singapore's Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan said, "It is vital to keep sporting competitions and politics separate. We must not let politics obstruct the sports."

On the same day, Lesotho Foreign Minister Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa said in his meeting with Chinese ambassador that Lesotho will back China's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territory integrity, stressing that the handling of the Lhasa riot was China's internal affairs and no other countries have the right to make irresponsible remarks on the issue.

The press release also said that ambassadors in Beijing from Arabian nations all expressed their shock to the violence that occurred in Lhasa, saying that their countries support China's approaches to safeguard national security and restore social stability, and would continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

On the same day, Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee urged Dalai Lama and his followers to stay away from any political activities.

Cote d'Ivoire's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa and the Republic of Congo (ROC) Foreign Affairs Minister Basile Ikouebe all expressed their firm supports for China and its efforts to hold a successful Olympic Games in Beijing, the press release added.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2008)