SECURITY CLAMPDOWN: Chinese soldiers have set up camp near the town of Xin Du Qiao in Sichuan province, a Tibetan-occupied area to which the anti-Chinese protests in Tibet have spread. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

'Whatever happens in Tibet, Gansu, or Qinghai will not affect the operations of the torch relay,' Mr Jiang Xiaoyu, a top Beijing Olympic official, said yesterday, adding that the safety of torch bearers is guaranteed.

'We firmly believe that the Tibet authorities will be able to ensure the stability of Tibet, and also the smooth going of the torch relay in Tibet,' the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee's executive vice-president told reporters in Beijing.

The upcoming Beijing Olympics torch relay - an Olympics tradition held in the run-up to the opening ceremony of every Game - is controversial in China because it will pass through all 31 mainland provinces, including regions that have seen recent unrest.

Lhasa, the capital of south-western Tibet, was the hotbed of riots over the past week staged by ethnic Tibetans protesting against Chinese rule.

The protests have since spread to neighbouring Tibetan-occupied areas including Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, as well as overseas where Chinese embassies and consulates have been attacked.

Admitting for the first time that the riots had spread beyond Tibet, Mr Zhang Yusheng, a spokesman for the Gansu government, said yesterday: 'Rioters shouting 'Tibet independence' slogans attacked government office buildings, schools and burnt down shops in Gansu province.'

In Sichuan, witnesses said China has deployed large numbers of troops to the province.

Beijing has imposed a massive security clampdown in Tibet and surrounding provinces, sealing off the riot-hit areas from foreigners including journalists.

Stability has 'basically been restored' in Tibet, Mr Jiang said yesterday.

But observers say officials fear unrest will flare up again during the upcoming torch relay, especially given the intense media attention.

Still, Mr Jiang said 'there were no changes' to plans to allow foreign media to cover the Tibet leg of the torch relay, but added that if unforeseen events occur, 'we can change the routes or cancel the relay in certain cities'.

The relay starts next Monday with the lighting of the torch in ancient Olympia, Greece. On the mainland, the torch is scheduled to visit Tibet twice, before arriving back in Beijing for the opening ceremony on Aug 8.

The first stop in Tibet will also be the highlight of the relay. Chinese climbers will attempt to take the flame to the 8,850m summit of Mount Everest on a day with favourable weather conditions in May, said Mr Jiang.

The torch will pass through Tibet again on the domestic leg of the relay from June 19 to 21.

Dismissing growing calls from certain sectors for an Olympics boycott over Tibet, Mr Jiang said the longest torch relay in history will take the message of 'peace and harmony' from China to the rest of the world.

The torch relay will make the record books for its ambitious scale. It will last 130 days, pass through 19 countries, cover 137,000km, and involve 20,000 torchbearers.

Yesterday, other Chinese officials and state media stepped up the scathing tirade against the Dalai Lama, denouncing Tibet's spiritual leader for masterminding the unrest which Beijing says killed 13 people and caused US$14 million (S$19 million) worth of business losses.

Tibet's hardline Communist Party secretary Zhang Qingli said: 'We are now engaged in a fierce blood-and-fire battle with the Dalai clique.'

Pope Benedict XVI called for 'dialogue and tolerance' to bring an end to the biggest anti-Chinese protests in 20 years. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said he is prepared to hold discussions with the Dalai Lama, provided the latter does not support Tibet independence and renounces violence.

tracyq@sph.com.sg