ANALYST VIEW: Riots in Tibet

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao accused the Dalai Lama of orchestrating riots in Tibet in which dozens may have died and said his followers were trying to "incite sabotage" of Beijing's August Olympic Games.

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, has denied the charges and said he would resign as Tibetan leader if violence got out of control.

COMMENTARY

SIMON LITTLEWOOD, PRESIDENT OF CONSULTING FIRM "ASIA NOW"

IN SINGAPORE:

"There are economic difficulties in Lhasa along with much of China, where food price inflation has created a very difficult situation for the poorer members of society. I think it's a combination of factors but economics is a very important factor at this point.

"If you're at the bottom end of the social spectrum, a significant rise in the price of port and bread and other staples is very difficult, because it can mean the difference between eating and not eating. Tibet, although it's been significantly improved by Chinese investment, is still essentially a country of poor people.

"The notion that the Dalai Lama has any role to play in politics is just the height of self-delusion ... there's absolutely no possibility of any kind of compromise between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government, that isn't going to happen."

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