Tibetan parliament-in-exile accepts Dalai Lama's retirement

The Tibetan parliament-in-exile agreed today to accept the Dalai Lama's resignation from politics, paving the way for a new leadership structure within the movement.

The Tibetan parliament-in-exile agreed on Friday to accept the Dalai Lama's resignation from politics, paving the way for a new leadership structure within the movement.

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The Dalai Lama will continue to lead the Tibetan cause in his more important role as its spiritual figurehead, but two weeks ago he announced he wanted to step down as head of Tibet's government-in-exile.

"It was a hard decision to decide to amend the constitution and separate His Holiness from Tibetan politics but he is doing it for the benefit of Tibetans in the long run," Karma Yeshi, a member of parliament, told AFP.

"Keeping that in view we have taken this decision."

The parliament unanimously passed four resolutions to oversee the handover process, after previously trying to block the Dalai Lama's request.