Dalai Lama a man of peace, says US

Maintaining its call to China to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama, the United States has described the Tibetan spiritual leader as 'a man of peace' and rejected the possibility that he may support 'suicide attacks' to disrupt Olympics.

"I hope not. Certainly we think it is appropriate for Chinese officials to engage in dialogue and discussion with the Dalai Lama. He is an individual, who has always acted in the best interest of his community," US State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said.

"He is an individual who is a man of peace, and someone who supports a non-violent process of dialogue and discussion to resolve these issues. And hopefully this won't be the last word from the Chinese government with respect to him," he said.

The spokesman further stressed that Washington did not have 'any information that would support the Dalai Lama taking any kind of approach other than a non-violent, peaceful one to this issue.