New York: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama does not advocate a boycott of the Beijing Olympics over the Chinese crackdown in his homeland, but says it is for the individual leaders to decide whether to attend the Games.

"I wish, basically, their (China's) world event, game event should take place smoothly. But whether you see individual leader, go down or not, that's up to them. That's individual right," he told NBC television in an interview.

He replied in the negative when asked if he would advocate a boycott of the Games scheduled for August 8-24 in the Chinese capital.

Asked whether he would like US President George W Bush and other leaders to boycott the opening ceremony, the Dalai Lama said, "That's up to them."

Referring to protests during the relay of the Olympic torch, the Dalai Lama said after some "unpleasant sort of events" in England and Paris, he sent a message to Tibetans in San Francisco area not to create any violence.

Asked if his message was to stop the protest or only violence, he replied, "violence, violence." He said his main message to China was "We are not against you. And I m not seeking separation."

The Dalai Lama said he had come to the US to encourage compassion, on which he opened a conference in Seattle yesterday.
Source : PTI