Dalai Lama warns of 'great danger' facing Tibetans

"My trust in Chinese officials has become thinner and thinner," the Tibetan spiritual leader told nearly 600 delegates a day after they wrapped up a week-long review of the Dalai Lama's policy towards Beijing.

"In the next 20 years, if we are not careful in our actions and planning, then there is great danger to the Tibetan community," he said in the exiles' base in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala.

"We must try to think of innovative ways to sustain the Tibetan people," he added.

On Saturday, the gathering of representatives from the global Tibetan movement ended their meeting by backing the Dalai Lama's "middle way" of talks with Beijing seeking what they call meaningful, or greater, autonomy for Tibet.

The decision was a disappointment for those groups who had favoured a major policy shift towards an unequivocal demand for full independence.

"The majority were for a continuation of the 'middle way' policy" of compromise with Chinese authorities, said Karma Chophel, speaker of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

"But quite a number said if the 'middle way' did not produce any results in the near future, then the people will be forced to switch the policy to complete independence or a demand for self-determination," Chophel said.

The Dalai Lama had called the policy meeting in Dharamshala after admitting his approach of attempting to secure concessions from China had failed to achieve a breakthrough.

But most decided against dropping the policy, saying the shift would lose Tibetans international support and further antagonise Beijing.

"His policy is practical," Jamyang Jinpa, a 29-year-old monk attending the meeting, told AFP. "It's one that can move with the times."

Delegates had divided into 15 committees, each of which presented a report, and the final consensus was decided Saturday.

Lhadon Thethorg, a delegate and New York president of Students for a Free Tibet, said the meeting had heard many calls for independence, but she accepted that her hopes of a significant policy change had been dashed.

"We are in a democratic system, but the opinion of the majority may not be the right one," she said.

"Whether for the 'middle way' or independence for Tibet, people are calling for more vigorous action," she said on the final day of the talks.

Among those at the gathering backing a pro-independence policy was Tendon Dahortsang, 28, European president of the Tibetan Youth Association.

"It's clear that dialogue is not working," she said. "We can't wait for China to change. We have to push for it."

China on Friday had moved to pre-empt the meeting's decision, accusing the Dalai Lama of covertly campaigning for independence.

In a commentary published by the official Xinhua news agency, the Dalai Lama's insistence that he is only seeking greater autonomy for Tibet was again flatly rejected.

"When conditions are ripe, they will seek to realise 'complete Tibet independence'," it said.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, had asked followers for fresh guidance after expressing frustration with the lack of progress in talks with China.

"I have to accept failure," he said on a recent visit to Japan. "Suppression (in Tibet) is increasing and I cannot pretend that everything is OK."

In March, protests against Chinese rule in the capital, Lhasa, erupted into violence that spread to other areas of western China with Tibetan populations.

Tibet's government-in-exile said more than 200 Tibetans were killed in a subsequent Chinese crackdown.

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