McCain condemns Beijing's actions over Tibet protests

Beijing: US presidential hopeful John McCain criticised Beijing's actions as "not acceptable" on Saturday, while the flagship newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party called for efforts to "resolutely crush" anti-government protests by Tibetans.

McCain's comments added to a rising international chorus of concern over Beijing's crackdown, criticisms that Beijing has met with its own campaign to portray the protests as having been instigated by supporters of the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama.

Meanwhile, Beijing's official death toll from last week's rioting in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa rose to 22, with the Xinhua news agency reporting that five more civilians and a police officer died.

During a visit to Paris on Friday, McCain said China's crackdown "is not correct" and, after a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, expressed hope Beijing would seek a peaceful resolution.

"The people there are being subjected to mistreatment that is not acceptable with the conduct of a world power, which China is," McCain said in response to a question by a Chinese reporter.

"There must be respect for human rights, and I would hope that the Chinese are actively seeking a peaceful resolution to this situation that exists which harms not only the human rights of the people there but also the image of China in the world," he said.