China says it welcomes reporters to cover Olympics in "fair and objective" way

China said Tuesday it welcomes journalists covering the 2008 Beijing Olympics, responding to complaints by a media rights group that the communist regime has decided to clamp down on reporting before the Games.

In an open letter last week, Reporters Without Borders cited "disturbing reports" about the way Chinese authorities are planning to deal with the tens of thousands of journalists expected to attend the Games, including plans to compile files on them and reserving the right to turn them back even if they are accredited by national Olympic committees.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the Paris-based group has launched …