Inside the national cathedral, the Buddhist leader laid a white scarf, symbol of mourning, gratitude and respect, at the coffin of the former archbishop, who died Friday at the age of 91.

The Dalai Lama also spent several minutes praying next to the coffin of Silva Henriquez, a man known for his defense of human rights during and after the brutal military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

On leaving the church, the Dalai Lama said the aim of his visit had been to pay his respects to the leader of Chilean church who had fought for peace.

The 62-year-old spiritual leader, who was on a Latin American tour that included stopovers in Argentina and Brazil, also met with political leaders here.

The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who heads Tibet's government in exile in Dharamsala, India, fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against the Chinese regime.

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Last updated: 14-April-99