Dalai Lama denies he said Chinese shot 140 Tibetan protesters

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — The Dalai Lama denies he told a French newspaper that Chinese soldiers may have shot 140 Tibetan protesters this week, his office said Thursday.

"We would like to clarify that His Holiness did not mention any number of casualties," it said in a statement issued after Le Monde published an interview earlier Thursday.

"In response to a question from the journalist about recent news stating that Chinese troops had fired on a demonstration, His Holiness clearly stated that we had no specific information on the number of casualties.

"In this particular interview His Holiness said: 'We just heard that, but no possibility to cross-check. So I don't know.'" said the statement.

© 2008 AFP