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'No agreement' during Tibet talks

Chinese officials and representatives of the Dalai Lama ended day-long talks without a breakthrough but agreed to more talks, Chinese state media say.

The two sides would to hold further dialogue at "an appropriate time", Xinhua news agency reported.

The meeting - in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen - was the first since violent protests by Tibetans in March.

The Dalai Lama has spoken out against the violence in March

Beijing says the Dalai Lama incited the violence. He denies this and accuses the government of human rights abuses.

The two Chinese delegates "answered patiently" questions raised by the two representatives of the Dalai Lama, Xinhua said.

But they told the representatives that recent unrest had created "new obstacles" to dialogue, it added.

The US welcomed the meeting. "We have long encouraged the resumption of a dialogue between Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.

"We hope discussions can lead to better understanding."

Autonomy demands

Western governments have repeatedly pressed China to renew dialogue with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

The two sides have met several times since 2002, but without any concrete results.

The Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile have been based in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, nine years after China sent troops into the region to enforce a territorial claim.

Anti-China protests led by Buddhist monks began in Lhasa on 10 March this year and gradually escalated into rioting.

China says at least 19 people were killed by the rioters - but Tibetan exiles say dozens of people were killed by the Chinese security forces as they moved to quell the unrest.

TIBET DIVIDE
China says Tibet was always part of its territory Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century In 1950, China launched a military assault Opposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959 Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India

The unrest was the worst in the region in 20 years.

After the riots, pro-Tibetan protesters threw China's global Olympic torch relay into disarray as it passed through several cities, including London, Paris and San Francisco.

The Dalai Lama has repeated his position that he wants increased autonomy for Tibet within China, not independence.