by Denholm Barnetson
MADRID (AFP) - Spain's top criminal court agreed Tuesday to hear a
lawsuit from Tibetan rights groups that accuses Chinese leaders of
genocide in connection with the unrest that erupted in the region in
March.
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The suit was filed on July 9 against seven Chinese leaders, including
Defence Minister Liang Guanglie, by the Tibet Support Committee and
two other Tibetan groups.

It was admitted under the principle of "universal competence" adopted
by the Spanish judiciary in 2005 and under which Spanish courts can
hear cases of genocide and crimes against humanity wherever they occur
and whatever the nationality of the defendant.

Spain's National Court, which handles crimes against humanity and
genocide, said it "accepts the competence of Spanish jurisdiction to
investigate the reported events."

The court's decision comes just three days before the opening of the
Beijing Olympics, which has seen China facing unprecedented
international scrutiny.