The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a resolution on Wednesday calling on China to "immediately" end human rights abuses ahead of the Summer Olympics set to begin in Beijing on August 8, according to dpa. The measure, passed by a 419-1 vote, cites a rise in crackdowns on dissidents leading up to the Games and the failure of the Chinese government to make progress in negotiations with representatives of Tibet, which wants independence. "In exchange for the privilege of hosting the Olympic Games, the Chinese government made commitments on freedom of the press, human rights and on the environment," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "Many of these commitments have been violated repeatedly and blatantly." China's human rights record has come under increased scrutiny ahead of the Games, and civil rights groups have alleged Beijing has used the need to provide security as a pretext for pressuring political dissidents. President George W Bush has resisted calls to boycott the opening ceremonies, but the White House says he continues to raise US concerns about rights abuses in conversations with Chinese President Hu Jintao. The Chinese government earlier this year launched a crackdown on Tibetan demonstrators demanding independence, provoking international condemnations and calls for a boycott of the Games. The tour of the Olympic torch in the last few months has been met with massive and occasionally violent protests in cities around the world, including in San Francisco, Paris and Athens.
