Her comments come after a group of Nobel Prize winners, international athletes and politicians wrote a letter to the Chinese president.

It asks him to use his influence in Sudan to end the conflict in Darfur.

Tessa Jowell said calls for a boycott are a "great pity" and Britain is still committed to attending the games.

The Nobel laureates letter says Beijing has to ensure its actions live up to the ideals of peace and international co-operation.

But Ms Jowell told The Times newspaper: "The world has known for the last seven years that Beijing would host the Olympics.

"Most progressive governments accept that there are wholly unacceptable aspects of Chinese policy but that did not stop the International Olympics Committee (IOC) awarding them the Games.

"A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity. This doesn't mean, however, we should we distracted from the urgency of Darfur."

Ostracised

Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing.

In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council.

As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur.

On Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, the open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president, Hu Jintao.

(BBC)

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