McCain says China's conduct in Tibet unacceptable

PARIS (Reuters) - U.S. presidential hopeful John McCain said on Friday that China was behaving unacceptably in Tibet and he urged Beijing to look for a peaceful end to clashes between anti-government protestors and police.

"One of the first things I would talk about if I were President of the United States today is what's going on in Tibet," McCain told reporters after a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.

"It's not correct that the people there are being subjected to mistreatment. That is not acceptable conduct from a world power, which China is," he said.

McCain's comments add to growing international criticism of China over its handling of the protests in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, which the Tibetan government in exile says has cost at least 99 lives.

China says 13 "innocent civilians" have been killed in the rioting, which it accuses the Dalai Lama of orchestrating.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier on Friday that Tibet was a challenge to the world's conscience and she called for an international investigation to clear the Dalai Lama's name.

McCain said he did not discuss the Tibet issue in his meeting with Sarkozy but said China, which is preparing to host the Olympic Games, risked damaging its international image.

"There must be respect for human rights, whether it be in Tibet or whether it be anyplace else in the world," McCain said.

"I would hope that the Chinese would announce that they are actively seeking a peaceful resolution to this situation that exists which harms not only the human rights of people but also the image of China in the world," he said.