US senator concerned over situation in Tibet

Expressing concern over the situation in Tibet, US Senator Harry Reid has said "what is happening there is very sad", the Central Tibetan Administration, based here, said Friday.

Visiting Tibetan prime minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay called on the senator in his office in Washington Thursday and discussed the current situation in Tibet.

"I have met his holiness the Dalai Lama several times. He is a remarkable figure. What is happening in Tibet is very sad," a Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) statement quoting Reid said.

The forthcoming visit of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to Washington was also discussed.

Sangay explained the efforts of his administration to draw attention to and resolve the Tibet issue, it said.

According to the CTA, over 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since February 2009 in Tibet.

The common cry of all self-immolators is the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.

The CTA reiterated that it was not encouraging self-immolations and asked China to send an investigation team here to prove otherwise.

The Dalai Lama, 78, has lived in India since 1959 when he fled his homeland after a failed uprising against the Communist rule. The government-in-exile is based here but is not recognised by any country, including India.