Dharamshala, Mar 21 (ANI): US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi met Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama here today.

Pelosi received a warm welcome at the main temple complex, which is opposite the residence of the Dalai Lama.

Pelosi, the third highest ranking US official, was accompanied by nine US Congressmen.

She was also a strong supporter of the move to honour the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal, a top US civilian honour.

The town, which is home to many Tibetans living-in-exile, has been witnessing sporadic anti-China protests for the past week since Beijing began the crackdown against pro-independence demonstrators in Lhasa.

Tibetan exiles across the globe were expressing their solidarity with Tibetans in China.

Tibetans want the exiled Dalai Lama to be allowed to live in Tibet.

The crackdown on the protests in Tibet and neighbouring Chinese provinces had sparked calls for a boycott of the Olympic Games.

China has accused the Dalai Lama, of orchestrating monk-led protests and rioting — the most serious in the Himalayan region for nearly two decades — in a bid to wreck the August 8-24 Olympic Games.

The spiritual leader has denied masterminding the protests, which culminated riots in Lhasa.

Pelosi, who is on a five-day visit, is likely to visit Agra and Mumbai.

Pelosi is undertaking an “India Only” visit unlike her other colleagues who include other countries in their itinerary.

The previous US Speaker to visit India was Dennis Hastert of the Republican Party. (ANI)