Dalai Lama: Respect the torch

2008-05-21 16:04

London - The Dalai Lama on Wednesday urged Tibetans not to disrupt the Olympic torch relay when it passes through Tibet on its way to Beijing.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader even suggested he would be prepared to go to the 2008 Games in the Chinese capital if talks went well between his representatives and Beijing on greater Tibetan autonomy.

The torch is due to visit Tibet on June 19, heading to Shanna Diqu before passing through Lhasa on June 20-21.

The Dalai Lama is in Britain until May 30 as part of a five-country tour, with talks on human rights and peace as well as meetings with lawmakers including Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He said: "I appeal, particularly inside Tibet, (people) should not disrupt the Olympic torch when they visit."

"We must respect, we must protect that."

And on the possibility of attending the Beijing Olympics in August, he said: "It very much depends on our meeting. If the situation in Tibet and some kind of long-term solution happens, then I am happy to go there - if the invitation comes," he said.

Meanwhile in Dharamshala in northern India, the Tibetan government-in-exile called for a temporary halt to protests against China as a mark of respect to earthquake victims.

- AFP