Washington: The White House today shrugged off concerns about US protests targeting the Beijing Olympics flame and vowed to keep pushing China on human rights, and holding talks with the Dalai Lama.

"People around the world deserve the right to express themselves freely and peacefully," spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters when asked about the demonstrations in San Francisco yesterday.

US President George W Bush "has an obligation, as he did yesterday, to speak publicly on this matter, and to speak privately to the Chinese about human rights freedoms, political speech freedoms, and he's going to continue to do that before, during and after the Olympics," she added.

"And he can do that with the Chinese because he's established good relations with them," added Perino, who has steadfastly refused to say whether Bush will join other world leaders in skipping the August games opening ceremony.

Source : PTI