More troops sent to Tibet to quell anti-China protests

Additional Chinese troops have been sent to Tibet to check anti-government protests in the region, AP reported. Beijing admitted to making further arrests in Lhasa, and acknowledged for the first time that the protests have spread to Tibetan communities in other parts of the country. On Thursday, state media made the first official reference since rioting began last Friday to the actual shooting of protestors. It reported that police, acting in self defense, shot and wounded four protestors in Sichuan province over the weekend. According to the government, 16 people have died and over 300 have been injured in the violence. Tibetan exile groups claim there have been 80 fatalities. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama offered to participate in face-to-face talks with the Chinese leadership. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged China to reach out to the Dalai Lama and exercise restraint in dealing with protestors.