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Dalai Lama asks Chinese president to allow envoys into Tibet
3 hours ago

WA****NGTON (AFP) =97 The Dalai Lama has written a letter to China's
President Hu Jintao offering to send emissaries to Tibet to calm down
tensions following Beijing's crackdown, his special envoy said
Wednesday.

"His Holiness expressed his deepest concerns about the situation (in
Tibet) and offered to send his emissaries to help calm the situation
and explain to Tibetans, but that specific offer so far went
answered," envoy Lodi Gyari told re****ters.

The letter, sent on March 19, was part of efforts "to begin a
discussion on a peaceful way forward" following the Chinese crackdown
on pro-Tibetan protests, said Gyari, who testified earlier at a US
Senate hearing on the turmoil in Tibet.

Gyari pointed out that Beijing had replied to the letter but did not
specifically respond to the Dalai Lama's offer.

Asked for details of Beijing's reply, he said, "There was nothing
concrete, just rhetoric. Just leave it like that."

Some media re****ts that the Dalai Lama's side was at present in
discussions with the Chinese government was "unfortunately an
oversatement of fact," he said.

The 72-year-old Dalai Lama, who has lived in northern India since
fleeing Tibet after a failed uprising in 1959, is campaigning for
"meaningful autonomy" for his homeland, currently largely under
Chinese rule.

Exiled Tibetan leaders say China's clampdown last month left more than
150 dead, while Beijing says "rioters" killed 20.

The incident has overshadowed China's hosting of the Beijing Olympics
in August, with protests marring international legs of the ceremonial
torch relay.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j6TrifJsutvbD9i2RXbG--bIUcvQ