Tuesday, September 19 2006 15:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: Tibet's top Communist Party leader has termed as 'rumours' reports that China has deployed nuclear weapons or set up nuclear facilities in the fragile Himalayan region of Tibet bordering India.

"I can assure you that no nuclear weapons or plants have been set up in the autonomous region," Communist Party Secretary of Tibet Autonomous Region, Zhang Qingli was quoted as saying by the state media today (Sept 19, 2006).

Zhang said the Chinese government would follow the traditional Tibetan practice of drawing lots from a gold urn when deciding the next (15th) Dalai Lama. The current Dalai Lama, who is on exile in India is 71-years-old.

At the same time, Zhang blasted the Dalai Lama saying he was unworthy to be called a spiritual leader of Tibetans since he engaged in activities against the motherland.

"The Dalai Lama has engaged in activities unrelated to religion and is an unworthy religious leader, Zhang was quoted as saying by 'China Daily' The 14th Dalai Lama was no doubt once the spiritual leader in Tibet before he fled (to India) in 1959, but his recent behaviour makes him 'unworthy' of the title of religious leader," he said.