Stop protest against Olympic Torch: Dalai Lama

London, May 22: The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama, has asked the Tibetans to stop protesting against the Olympic torch relay and refrain from demonstrating when the symbol of the games passes through their homeland. The Dalai Lama on a visit to London on Wednesday urged Tibetans to stop protests against the Olympic torch.

"I appeal particularly inside Tibet, people should not disturb the torch when it visits," The Telegraph quoted him, as saying. "I made clear right from the beginning, we fully support the Olympic games. The Olympic torch is part of that and we must respect it," he added. The Olympic torch will arrive in Tibet on June 19 and be carried through capital, Lhasa, en route to Beijing. When the torch passed through London, Paris and San Francisco, exiled Tibetans seized the chance to protest against China's occupation of their homeland. Earlier, the Dalai Lama's representatives met Chinese officials. Further negotiations will take place in June. If these succeed, the Dalai Lama said he would be willing to attend the Beijing Olympics. "If the situation in Tibet improves and if there is some progress to a long term solution, then I am willing to go, if the invitation comes," he said.

He added that China's human rights record in Tibet was "worse" than during his flight into exile in 1959.

ANI