US snubs China, says Dalai Lama free to go to Arunachal

Ahead of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, a top US official said he was free to go anywhere as a religious figure.

"The Dalai Lama is a religious leader and he, of course, can travel to carry out that role," US Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero said.

"He (Dalai Lama) is visiting a monastery, a holy place. And from our perspective, this is one of the roles that he plays," she said when asked for her reaction to Chinese protest over the Tibetan leader's visit to Tawang from Sunday.

Otero said US President Barack Obama would be visiting China this month and Tibet would certainly be one of the issues for discussion with the Chinese leaders.

(With PTI inputs)