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Beijing (ANTARA News) - Hollywood star Sharon Stone has apologised after a furious response in China to her comments that its deadly earthquake was "karma" over the Chinese government's policies in Tibet.

The US actress also offered to help with the earthquake relief effort in a statement issued by the China branch of French luxury goods maker Christian Dior, where she is a top model.

"My erroneous words and deeds angered and saddened the Chinese people, and I sincerely apologise for this," she said in the statement, issued in Chinese and sent to AFP Thursday.

"I'm willing to participate in any earthquake relief activity and to do my utmost to help Chinese people affected by the disaster," she added.

Stone, 50, made the controversial remarks at the Cannes Film Festival last week, leading to pledges by some Chinese cinemas not to show her films.

"I'm not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else," Stone said, according to footage widely available on YouTube.

"And then all this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and I thought, is that karma -- when you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?"

Dior's China branch also issued a statement distancing itself from Stone's remarks.

"We don't agree with her hasty, unreflecting remarks and we deeply regret them," Dior said in a Chinese-language statement.

"Dior was one of the first international brands to enter China and has won the affection and respect of the consuming public. We absolutely do not support any remark that hurts the Chinese people's feelings.

"We express our sorrow over the compatriots who lost their lives in the earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan, and we extend our sympathy and condolences to the people in the disaster area."

Tibet was rocked by unrest in March. According to aides of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, 203 Tibetans were killed and 1,000 injured in China's subsequent crackdown in the Himalayan region.

But China says Tibetan "rioters" and "insurgents" killed 21 people, and has accused the Dalai Lama of trying to sabotage the Beijing Olympics -- a charge he denies.

On May 12, a massive earthquake struck China's southwest Sichuan province, leaving nearly 88,000 people dead or missing.

Stone's image has been removed from a number of Dior outlets at department stores in Beijing, according to reports in the state media.

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