In a wide ranging two hour media conference in Dharamsala yesterday evening, the Dalai Lama repeated his long standing position that he might be forced to resign as a spokesperson for the Tibetan people if violence in Tibet became “out of control”.

Reiterating his opposition to the use of violence, the Dalai Lama also vehemently denied accusations from China that he was behind last week’s protests in Tibet. He asked the media to investigate for themselves the truth of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s allegations that the unrest was “organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique.”

The Tibetan leader reaffirmed that he wanted autonomy for Tibet within China, but not outright independence, which he said was “out of the question”. “We have to live together side by side. We must oppose Chinese policy but not the Chinese.”

The Dalai Lama expressed admiration for Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who he said was showing great concern about Tibet. He praised Mr Rudd’s Chinese language skills, and his National Apology to the Stolen Generations.