(BERLIN) - EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner raised the threat of a boycott of the Beijing Olympics Games over Tibet in an interview with a German weekly to appear Sunday.

Ferrero-Waldner also called on European companies that operate in China to demand respect for human rights and for peaceful demonstrations worldwide on the issue in the interview with Bild am Sonntag.

"There are five months left before the opening ceremony," she said. "We should watch exactly how Beijing behaves during the coming weeks before deciding on boycott measures."

She added: "Companies that are active in China should particularly demand respect for human rights. We cannot stop business from one day to the next. But in a situation such as the one in Tibet, companies have a responsibility."

The commissioner said the Chinese government should negotiate with representatives of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama "with the aim of ending the discrimination of the Tibetan people".

EU foreign ministers meeting in Slovenia were split on the idea of boycotting the Olympics opening ceremony over Tibet, but keen for China to open talks with the Dalai Lama.

On Saturday, the Dalai Lama appealed to the world community to "please help" resolve the crisis in his homeland that has been rocked by deadly anti-Chinese protests.

The protests began in Tibet's capital, Lhasa, on March 10 and erupted into widespread riots in the city four days later. They later spread to neighbouring Chinese provinces with a heavy Tibetan presence.

China says rioters killed 18 innocent civilians and two police officers. But exiled Tibetan leaders have put the death toll from a Chinese crackdown at about 140 Tibetans and say another 1,000 people have been injured.

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.