Dalai Lama warns he will step down if violence continues

The Dalai Lama said today that he will step down if violence by Tibetans in his homeland spirals out of control.

Protests in Tibet turned increasingly violent last week, and the Dalai Lama has urged Tibetans to show restraint.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said today that if things spiral out of control, his “only option is to completely resign”.

The Lhasa protests began peacefully on March 10 on the anniversary of a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.

But they grew increasingly violent, culminating on Friday with widespread street violence.

Chinese officials say 16 people were killed, but the Tibetan government-in-exile says that 80 people died.