President Bush at Monticello's 46th annual Independence Day celebration and naturalization ceremony, in Charlottesville, Va., 04 Jul 20008

Human rights activists say they are disappointed by U.S. President George Bush's decision to attend the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Beijing and ignore calls for a boycott.

U.S. lawmakers and activist groups have urged Mr. Bush not to attend the ceremony to protest China's human rights record and its policies toward Sudan regarding its war-torn Darfur region.

But on Thursday, Mr. Bush confirmed for the first time that he and first lady Laura Bush would attend.

Groups such as the Save Darfur Coalition and Reporters Without Borders voiced their disappointment Friday, saying the decision would make it more difficult for the United States to pressure Chinese authorities on human rights or its policies overseas.

They also note that it disregards bipartisan calls from members of the U.S. Congress.

Over the past year, and in the wake of China's crackdown on protests in Tibet, the question of whether heads of state should attend the opening ceremony has become a controversial issue.

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel are among those who have confirmed they will not attend the gathering.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy has linked his attendance to progress in the ongoing talks between China and representatives of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, Dalai Lama.
 
Speaking with reporters Friday, a White House spokeswoman defended the decision and said that Mr. Bush would still use his meetings with officials in China during the Games to discuss concerns over human rights and freedom of religion.