PRAGUE, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Czech lower house lawmakers adopted a declaration Tuesday urging China to seek a political solution in Tibet which 'reflects the wishes and interests of the Tibetan population'.

The declaration, supported by 79 out of the 103 lawmakers present in the lower house, also called on Beijing to release all those punished for expressing their political views or seeking to worship.

It evoked the former Czechoslovakia's own 'tragic experience from political trials' during the communist era.

Lawmakers also called on both sides to halt violence which broke out last month, for international observers to be allowed into Tibet and for Chinese authorities to start talks with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Czech politicians have so far taken a mixed stance on the Chinese crackdown in Tibet.

A handful of politicians, such as Prague Mayor Pavel Bem and education and sports minister Ondrej Liska, have said they will boycott this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. But Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has called for the entire cabinet to decide whether he attends the games or not.