SOUTH AFRICA 'BLOCKS' DALAI LAMA !

The Dalai Lama was due at a peace conference this week

The South African government has defended its decision to deny entry to the Dalai Lama, amid charges it is bowing to pressure from China.

The Tibetan spiritual leader was due to attend a peace meeting in Johannesburg this week, along with fellow Nobel laureates Desmond Tutu and FW de Klerk.

But the authorities have not granted an entry visa, saying the invitation did not come from official channels.

Archbishop Tutu has threatened to pull out of the conference over the issue.

Speculation is rife in the local media that the government caved in to pressure from Beijing.

"The Chinese government would not have been happy had we let him come," an unnamed government official was quoted as saying by Business Day newspaper.

"We would not do anything to upset the relationship we have with China," the official said.

But a government spokesman said the Dalai Lama was not on the official list of invitees to the Johannesburg conference, which was organised in connection with the 2010 Football World Cup.

"As a government we have not extended an invitation, and therefore the issue of a visa does not arise," foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa told AFP news agency.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of leading the fight for Tibet's independence. He says he just wants more autonomy for the region.

BBC NEWS REPORT.