Chinese president cancels speech amid pro-Tibet protests

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Sept 14 (AFP) - Chinese President Jiang Zemin cancelled his official dinner speech Tuesday after being delayed more than an hour by pro-Tibet protesters in New Zealand.

"I would like to express my apologies for you having to wait for me such a long time," he said. "It is not ... my fault." The president was applauded. "Different countries, different customs but this big problem is how to promote mutual understanding between peoples all around the world," said the Chinese leader.

Jiang said he would not deliver his dinner speech, which had already been released to journalists and guests. The Chinese leader arrived one hour and 20 minutes late for the state dinner held in his honour by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley.

Before Jiang arrived dinner guests were asked to be quiet for a minute so organisers could check whether the protests were audible. Jiang's embarrassment was apparently saved by the police, who heralded his approach with police car sirens drowning out the noise of the pro-Tibet protesters. Three large buses drove in to block the view.

Earlier, soldiers blocked off the hotel entrance and the New Zealand prime minister came down from the banquet room and was seen conferring with Chinese officials. Most of the more than 100 protesters had been held back behind plastic barricades at a corner on the street.

They hoisted banners reading "Free Tibet Now," and "China Where is the Panchen Lama," while creating a deafening roar by banging in rythm on the barricades.

About 25 police faced them. But after their numbers grew, police strengthened the line and began pushing them back.

Blows were exchanged as police seized sticks, batons, a number of musical instruments and at least one softball bat. Some demonstrators were knocked down while resisting, apparently without violence. Other protesters broke through the police lines and were hauled back. Police moved many of the demonstrators around the corner to where about 20 other protesters were already rallying, out of the view of the state dinner guests. The demonstration continued for about 15 minutes. Jonathan Collins, protest organiser and chairman of the local branch of the Friends of Tibet, complained that officals were "trying to protect President Jiang from seeing any sign of protest, it is almost China."

"It was lawful, peaceful a little bit rowdy perhaps. That was the whole point to get the message across. There was no trouble, no violence, we're proud of ourselves." A dinner guest who came out said the hundreds of guests were left waiting for their lobster dinner by the delay.

The protests brought a swift end to the relatively easy ride Jiang had enjoyed since arriving here for a major Asia-Pacific economic summit in Auckland on September 12-13. China is frequently accused of gradually destroying the indigenous culture of neighbouring Tibet by moving settlers of the Han majority into the Himalayan region by the hundreds of thousands.

Earlier in the day, Jiang had been on the charm offensive, even clambering onto a stage and shearing a sheep during a tour of a typical farm. At a set piece event in a model New Zealand family sheep farm, Jiang had tea with the farmer's family, fed a two-week-old lamb called Babe and then left the script by shearing a sheep.

Still wearing his grey suit and tie for the first full day of his official visit, Jiang took a page from hale-fellow-well-met US President Bill Clinton, who is scheduled to arrive in the same small city Wednesday. Officials say they plan to keep the two leaders at opposite ends of this city, which lies on the Pacific coast of New Zealand's South Island.