Dalai Lama says he's happy to meet Obama this week

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Associated Press
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrives at Dharamsala's Kangra airport as he leaves for New Delhi enroute to Washington, where he is scheduled to meet President Barack Obama on Feb 18, Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010, Dharamsala, India. (Photo: Abhishek Madhukar for Phayul)

DHARMSALA, India — The Dalai Lama says he is happy about meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington later this week.

The Tibetan spiritual leader left for New Delhi on Tuesday from the northern Indian town of Dharmsala where he has lived since fleeing Tibet 50 years ago. He leaves Wednesday for Washington and is scheduled to meet the U.S. president Thursday.

The Dalai Lama declined to take questions from reporters about the meeting.

China has urged the U.S. to cancel the meeting, saying it would damage relations between Beijing and Washington.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of pushing to free Tibet from Chinese rule, which he denies.