(Olympic) Games organizers respond to Spielberg

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080214/ap_en_ot/oly_beijing_spielberg

Games organizers respond to Spielberg

By CHRISTOPER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer
Thu Feb 14, 7:49 AM ET

BEIJING - China is blaming activists with "ulterior motives" for linking the Beijing Olympics to the nation's involvement in Sudan, with top officials saying they shared concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

Games organizers and the Foreign Ministry responded Thursday to Steven Spielberg rejecting a role as an artistic adviser to the Olympics.

The film director withdrew on Tuesday on the grounds that China wasn't doing enough to pressure Sudan over the conflict in its western region of Darfur.

China is believed to have influence over the Islamic regime because it buys two-thirds of the country's oil exports while selling it weapons and defending it in the United Nations.