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Terra Daily, May 30, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Dalai_Lama_formally_cedes_political_role_999.html
Dharamshala, India (AFP) May 30, 2011
The Dalai Lama has formally relinquished his political powers "in a historic move" but will remain the symbol of Tibetan unity, a spokesman for the spiritual leader said on Monday.
Tibetan exiles elected a Harvard scholar, Lobsang Sangay, 43, in April as their new prime minister to assume the political duties of the globe-trotting spiritual icon.
"It is a very historic moment. He will still be the religious leader and the symbol of Tibetan unity, but he has formally devolved his political role," the Buddhist monk's spokesman, Tempa Tsering, told AFP.
The Dalai Lama, 75, said in March he would give up his role as the Tibetan movement's political leader, transferring powers to a newly-elected head of the government-in-exile based in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala.