Dalai Lama may consider attending Beijing Olympics - official

Taipei: The Dalai Lama would consider attending the Beijing Olympics if asked by China, a Tibet government-in-exile lawmaker said on Monday.

A Chinese official asked whether the Dalai Lama would agree to attend the Beijing Olympics to ease recent tensions, Khedroob Thondup, a Taipei-based member of Tibet's parliament-in-exile said.

The move suggests that Beijing hopes to show the world that it can resolve the conflict with Tibet, which has created significant backlash worldwide.

Thondup said: "If they want to invite His Holiness to the Olympics, that would be a big change. I'm sure he would consider this."

China and Tibet held talks last week to discuss key issues, but Thondup said he didn't expect any results because of the lack of an agenda or consensus.

The two sides will most likely hold another round of talks before the Olympics, he said.