Khan, 43, said he empathised with the people of Tibet but wanted to keep the Beijing Olympics separate from the issue of human rights violations.

"When I do run with the torch on the 17th of April it is not in support of China. In fact it will be with a prayer in my heart for the people of Tibet, and indeed for all people across the world who are victims of human rights violations," Khan said in a blog post on his web site (www.aamirkhan.com) on Tuesday.

"However, I feel that the Olympic Games do not belong to China," the actor said adding it would be hard to find a place to hold the Games where the local government has not been accused of human rights violations.

India, which hosts Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile, has seen a wave of protests since China's crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in Tibet in March.

India has tried to reassure Bejing that security will be tight for the Olympics torch during the Indian leg of the relay.