Dalai Lama swears in new Tibetan prime minister

The Dalai Lama has led a ceremony to swear in a new prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile who takes over the Buddhist leader's political role.

Harvard-trained legal scholar Lobsang Sangay took the oath of office today and for the first time in Tibetan history holds a higher political authority than the Dalai Lama.

Mr Sangay was elected in April by tens of thousands of exiled Tibetans to lead the administration based in the northern Indian city of Dharmsala.

The Dalai Lama said an elected official should lead the government while he remains the Tibetan Buddhists' spiritual head.

Mr Sangay vowed to follow the Dalai Lama's path, seeking more autonomy for Tibet within China. China refuses to recognise his authority.