Dalai Lama to step down as Tibetan political leader

Dharamsala: exiled Dalai Lama announced on Thursday that he plans to officially resign as the political leader of the Tibetan government in exile.

"Back in 1960, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, who was elected freely Tibetan people, to whom I can hand over power," the Dalai Lama said in a prepared statement. "Now we have clearly reached a time to put it into practice."

The proposal must be approved by the Parliament of Tibet in exile based in India.

The Dalai Lama has long seen itself as a "semi-retired" from the political leadership of elected Prime Minister, already existing in Dharamsala. He remains the spiritual leader of Tibet.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. He now lives in exile in India and the supporters of "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet to China.

Beijing considers him a dangerous separatist responsible for fomenting unrest in Tibet.