Tibet Crisis: 'Stop being the lapdog of China'

The Dalai Lama, who has questioned some of the tactics used by exiles such as marching to China's border, was trying to explain to protest leaders, many from a younger generation, his position to work for autonomy rather than independence for Tibet.

"He explained to them about his feelings and that may be it's time to consider about the long term," a Dalai Lama spokesman, Chhime Chhoekyapa, said. "But whether they will listen to that is up to them."

The meeting lasted about 20 minutes. Protest leaders then left his residence for a meeting between themselves.

China warned of a 'life and death' struggle with the Dalai Lama on Wednesday, as it sought to end a wave of protests in its Tibetan regions with arrests and tightened political control. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has accused the Tibetan spiritual leader of masterminding the protests -- which culminated in a riot on Friday in Lhasa, Tibet's capital -- from Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama and the government-in-exile are based.

The Dalai Lama denies the charges.

Indian police appeared to have softened their stance on Tibetan protesters marching to the Chinese border, allowing a group of marchers to continue on their way from Dharamsala.

Last week a group of about 100 marchers were detained by police on orders of the Central government, but a second group, which picked up the route from where the first group was stopped, has been allowed to go ahead.

The marchers are planning to get to Tibet via New Delhi, where they hope to coincide with the arrival the Olympic torch as it passes through the Indian capital.

"There is definite change in mood of the Indian police," said Tenzin Palkyi, one of about 50 Tibetan protesters, speaking by telephone as the group marched through Punjab state. She said police has found them water and guarded their camp.

HUNGER STRIKE

In New Delhi, the entire membership of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile began a day-long hunger strike to highlight their cause. The Parliamentarians were seated on a wooden platform and dozens of monks in maroon robes squatted on the sidewalks.

The monks held up posters showing what they say are Chinese tanks and armoured vehicles in different Tibetan towns.

"China, stop accusing the Dalai Lama of inciting violence," read one placard.

New Delhi is treading a delicate balance with its giant neighbour, with whom it is trying to expand diplomatic and trade ties after decades of rivalry that included a brief war in 1962.

A major irritant is that India plays host to the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, scene of daily protests in the past week. Throughout the day, cries of 'Free Tibet' have echoed across the hill station as protesters waving or wearing Tibetan flags clog the town's sloping streets.

Nightly prayer ceremonies have taken place in Dharamsala's main Buddhist temple, where hundreds of people hold candles to listen to speeches and see gory slideshows of photographs of slain Tibetans, apparently taken during the recent riots and e-mailed out.

In other protests in Asia, 16 protesters waved 'Free Tibet' placards and shouted anti-Chinese slogans outside Beijing's Embassy in Bangkok.

They demanded the Thai government, which has been silent on the crackdown in Tibet, condemn Beijing for 'human rights abuses'.