Dalai Lama criticises China at start of Western tour

FRANKFURT (AFP) — The Dalai Lama lashed out at China over its crackdown on protests in Tibet two months ago as he arrived in Germany on Thursday at the start of a tour of Western powers in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.

"The Chinese political authorities' reaction, as before, was suppression. So it is very sad," the Tibetan spiritual leader said after landing in Frankfurt.

He called for autonomy for the Himalayan region and stressed that Tibetans wanted to live in harmony with China.

"Genuine harmony must come on the basis of trust, trust very much based on equality.

"So far these are lacking," he said.