ZHONGDIAN, China — The government stepped up its manhunt today for protesters in last week's riots in the capital of Tibet, as thousands of troops converged on foot, trucks and helicopters to Tibetan areas of western China.

The violence in Lhasa — a stunning show of defiance against 57 years of Chinese rule — has sparked sympathy demonstrations in neighboring provinces, prompting Beijing to blanket a huge area with troops and warn tourists and foreign journalists to stay away.

China's communist leadership, embarrassed by the chaos and international criticism of its response, has blamed the unrest on the Dalai Lama and his supporters and vigorously defended its reputation as a suitable host for the Beijing Olympics.

Numbers for injuries and death tolls have been varied and hard to confirm because China keeps a tight control over information. Tibetan exile groups say 99 people were killed — 80 in Lhasa and 19 in Gansu — while Beijing maintains that 16 died and more than 300 were injured in Lhasa.

BAGHDAD — Iraq has defeated terrorism and is well on the road to recovery after five years of war, a confident Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared. Then the lights went out.Al-Maliki, known for his dour gaze and steely nerves, tried to continue his speech. But his bodyguards would have none of that.They hustled him off the stage — apparently fearing that the power failure might be part of a plot against the prime minister.Al-Maliki's speech Thursday was an attempt to boost national morale on the anniversary of the start of the war.But its abrupt end was a reminder of the country's persistent problems and the obstacles ahead.Iraqis must cope with frequent power outages, lack of clean drinking water, rampant joblessness — and the ever-present fear of violent death.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — High oil prices socking U.S. consumers will be a key topic of Vice President Dick Cheney's talks today with Saudi King Abdullah but it's unclear whether Cheney will ask the Saudis to increase production.Early this year, the oil producing nations ignored President Bush's request to increase supplies so that gas prices, which are up over $3 a gallon, could fall.Cheney's advisers cautioned in advance of today's talks that oil was just one item on a long list of discussion topics which include Iran, Syria, Lebanon, protecting infrastructure against terror attacks and the vice president's visit this week to Iraq and Afghanistan. They said Cheney would review with the king steps that the consuming and producing nations can do, both in the short and long term, to stabilize the market.