Dalai Lama urges supporters to not disturb Olympic torch relay in Lhasa

Sydney, June 12 : On a five-day visit to Australia, the Dalai Lama today appealed to his supporters to not disturb the relay in the Tibetan capital Lhasa next week as it heads to Beijing for the Olympic Games.

He believed that there would not be any trouble during the relay.

"We have fully supported the Olympic Games right from the beginning," the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said at a conference where he was giving spiritual teachings.

"The torch is part of that. Over one billion Chinese brothers and sisters feel really proud of that. We should respect that. So, I don't think there will be any trouble," the AAP quoted him, as saying.

In Europe, the US, Asia and Australia, the torch relay has been the target of protests over China's crackdown on dissidents in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama, on a five-day visit to Australia, has met with federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson and will have talks with federal government ministers later this week.

ANI