"The Dalai Lama has been obstinate in his vain attempt to gain 'Tibet Independence'," the official Xinhua news agency said of the exiled spiritual leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

"In the past four decades, the Dalai Lama has changed some of his tactics, but his attempts to split Tibet from the motherland have remained unchanged," it said.

"The Dalai Lama is the major source for social disturbances in Tibet as well as the biggest obstacle to the establishment of the normal order of Tibetan Buddhism," it said, apparently referring to intermittent protests by people loyal to the Dalai Lama.

"His attempt to separate Tibet from its motherland and realise the fond dream of restoring his rule in old Tibet is bound to completely failure."

The commentary appeared on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Beijing imposing martial law in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa on March 8, 1989, following three days of anti-Chinese riots.

An estimated 50 Tibetans were shot dead by police during the mayhem, and martial law remained in effect for more than a year, until May 1, 1990.

Xinhua also signalled no progress had been made toward opening talks with the Dalai Lama, in spite of raised hopes following remarks by Chinese President Jiang Zemin last summer.

"In recent years the Dalai Lama claimed time and again that he seeks talks with the central government. In fact, this is nothing but a political trick in the new situation," the commentary said.

Jiang said during a news conference with visiting U.S. President Bill Clinton in June that he would talk to the Dalai Lama if the exiled leader affirmed Tibet and Taiwan were inalienable parts of China.

The Dalai Lama has sought autonomy for Tibet.

Monday's anniversary is followed on Wednesday by the more significant 40th anniversary of an armed separatist uprising in Tibet that saw thousands of Tibetans die battling Communist Chinese troops.

The Dalai Lama and most of his ministers fled during the fighting on March 17 and quickly established a "government-in-exile" in India.

In preparation for the sensitive dates, China has mounted a propaganda campaign highlighting improved social and economic conditions under communist rule for Tibet's 2.5 million people.

The population figure includes several hundred thousand Han, the overwhelming ethnic majority in China, who have gone to live in Tibet since 1959. The Dalai Lama complains frequently that they threaten Tibetan culture.

China's state media have run dozens of articles in recent days extolling what they say is a vastly improved life for Tibetans in contrast with the grim conditions of their former feudal existence.

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Last updated: 7-Mar-99