UN Chief not to attend Olympics Opening Ceremony

In a major setback to China, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has decided not to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics to be held on August 8. the UN General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim has also decided to stay away from the ceremony. Although their decision was officially not linked to ongoing conflict in Tibet, analysts are skeptical about their intent.

Earlier, British PM Gordon Brown and Canadian PM Stephen Harper have turned down China's request to attend the opening ceremony. In the United States, pressure is mounting on President George Bush to boycott the function.