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Dalai Lama ban delays conference Dalai Lama ban halts conference
(30 minutes later)
A peace conference for Nobel laureates in South Africa has been postponed over the government's refusal to allow the Dalai Lama to attend, organisers said. A peace conference for Nobel laureates in South Africa has been called off over Pretoria's refusal to allow the Dalai Lama to attend, organisers said.
This week's meeting in Johannesburg was linked to the 2010 Football World Cup, which the country is hosting.This week's meeting in Johannesburg was linked to the 2010 Football World Cup, which the country is hosting.
A storm of controversy erupted over the ban, with the government being accused of bowing to Chinese pressure.A storm of controversy erupted over the ban, with the government being accused of bowing to Chinese pressure.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former South African President FW de Klerk pulled out of the meeting in protest.Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former South African President FW de Klerk pulled out of the meeting in protest.
Despite the controversy surrounding the decision, presidential spokesman Thabo Masebe has confirmed that no visa will be issued.
"We stand by our decision. Nothing is going to change. The Dalai Lama will not be invited to South Africa. We will not give him a visa between now and the World Cup," he said.
'Spirit of peace'
The conference was intended to discuss football's role in fighting racism and xenophobia.The conference was intended to discuss football's role in fighting racism and xenophobia.
"The convenors have... decided in the spirit of peace to postpone the South African peace conference to ensure it is held under conducive conditions," Irvin Khoza, one of the sponsors of the meeting, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. "The convenors have... decided in the spirit of peace to postpone the South African peace conference to ensure it is held under conducive conditions," Irvin Khoza, chairman of the South Africa 2010 Organising Committee, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
Mr Khoza said the South African government had "persuaded" the Dalai Lama to postpone his visit. A government spokesman said on Monday that the Dalai Lama's visit was not in the country's best interest as it would distract attention from South Africa's hosting of the World Cup.
A government spokesman said on Monday that the Dalai Lama's visit would distract attention from South Africa's hosting of the World Cup. Mr Khoza said the government had "persuaded" the Dalai Lama to postpone his visit until after the football championship.
"Given that the purpose of the conference is peace, the convenors do not wish to put the Nobel peace committee under circumstances that would create conflict between the committee and its laureates," Mr Khoza added. Archbishop Tutu has branded the government's decision as "disgraceful" and accused the government of "shamelessly succumbing to Chinese pressure", a sentiment echoed in the local media.
Chinese officials in Pretoria said Beijing had warned against allowing the Dalai Lama into the country, saying it would harm bilateral relations.
Beijing says the Dalai Lama is pushing for Tibetan independence, and has stirred up unrest in the region.
But the Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 during an uprising against Chinese rule, has said he only wants limited autonomy for his homeland.