SAN FRANCISCO -- On the same day

activists scaled the Golden

Gate Bridge protesting China's policies in Tibet,

presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., called on President Bush to boycott the opening ceremony for this summer's Beijing Olympics.

In making her statement Monday, Clinton cited China's reaction to recent protests in Tibet and its lack of action in the troubling Darfur region of the Sudan.

"The violent clashes in Tibet and the failure of the Chinese government to use its full leverage with Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur are opportunities for Presidential leadership," Clinton said in a statement. "These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China. At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government."

Clinton's Democratic presidential rival, Barack Obama, said

he too was disturbed by events in Tibet and had communicated

his concerns to Bush. But the Illinois senator stopped short of

calling for the president to skip the opening ceremonies in

Beijing.

The California Highway Patrol said authorities would not try to go get the protesters who perched themselves on the Golden Gate Bridge out of concern for their safety. AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

"The Chinese government must take immediate steps to

respect the dignity, security, human rights and religious

freedom of the Tibetan people," Obama said. "If they do not,

there should be consequences."

In San Francisco on Monday,

three protestors hung banners from the bridge's cables just two days before the arrival

of the Olympic torch in the city.

"They are doing it at all the landmarks in the cities that

are hosting the Olympic torch," said Tenzing Dasang, a member

of Students for a Free Tibet, an activist group which he said

planned the action.

Wearing helmets and safety gloves, the three apparently

experienced climbers hung the banners between three parallel

red cables after a careful ascent. Two helpers below on the

bridge were later detained, Dasang said.

"One World, One Dream: Free Tibet," read one of two

banners, protesting China's recent crackdown on Tibet. A second

sign read "Free Tibet 08." Several smaller Tibetan flags

fluttered in the wind.

With the Olympic torch relay headed to San Francisco on Wednesday and with thousands of protesters also expected, USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth is cutting short his stay at the Olympic meetings in Beijing to return to the United States, according to USA Today.