(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-22 09:48

The leaders of several countries have voiced their support for the Chinese government's efforts to safeguard territorial integrity and national unity in the Tibet autonomous region.

On Wednesday, Zambian acting President Rupiah Banda expressed his support for the government as it aims to restore stability and social order.

Noting Tibet is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, he opposed boycotting the Beijing Olympics by taking advantage of the so-called "Tibet issue".

Zambian Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande echoed the remarks.

On Thursday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the assaults, vandalism, looting and arson in Lhasa by rioters and their wirepullers.

The criminal acts were designed to sabotage China's territorial integrity and national unity, the statement said, expressing Syria's firm support for the Chinese government's efforts to deal with the situation.

Also on Thursday, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Nurlan Baiuzakovich Yermekbayev said Tibet is an inseparable part of Chinese territory and the Tibet issue is undoubtedly an internal affair.

Kazakhstan supports the measures taken by the Chinese government in its efforts to defend Tibet's social stability, he said.

Again on Thursday, Mokolo wa MPombo, vice-Senate speaker of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said the affair pertaining to Tibet is China's internal affair, and the DRC resolutely supports the Chinese government in taking all necessary measures to stabilize Tibet.

Speaking during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the DRC Wu Zexian, Mpombo said his country opposed any attempt to politicize the Beijing Olympics.

Yanaki Boyanov Stoilov, chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Bulgarian National Assembly, also voiced support for the Chinese government.

When meeting Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Wanxue on Thursday, the congressman said Tibet is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and the Tibet issue is China's internal affair.

The recent riots will not affect the upcoming Olympics, he said, while reiterating Bulgaria's long-standing support for Beijing hosting the event.