Rice:China Must Not Use Olympics To Squash Dissent

`Security should not become in any way a cover to try and deal with dissent. That would be unfortunate,` Rice says.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged China on Saturday not to use security concerns over next month's Olympics as a cover to crush political dissent.

There has been a security clampdown in China ahead of the Aug. 8-24 Olympics. Some human rights groups, however, say the Chinese authorities have overreacted to security threats and used it as a way to crack down on political dissidents.

"China should by all means showcase not just the Olympics but an attitude of openness and tolerance," Rice said at a joint news conference with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark while on a two-day trip to Auckland.

"Security should not become in any way a cover to try and deal with dissent. That would be unfortunate," she added.

Shanghai police said this week they had broken up an international terrorist group that planned to attack an Olympic preliminary football match in the city.

Rice said that security was always a concern at events such as the Olympic Games and China had to follow through on its pledges to provide security at the sporting event.

But Rice, who plans to attend the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing, said she was hopeful the Games would go on "without a hitch".

Clark was also adamant that China should not over-react.

"These things need to be dealt with proportionately and with all due restraint," said Clark.

"With respect to whether New Zealand has any fears or concerns for the safety of its athletes. No, I have no fears," she added.