Dalai Lama Leaves Hospital

PATNA, India (AP) - After two days of treatment for exhaustion and stomach pain, the Dalai Lama left a hotel Thursday and flew to a gathering at Bodhgaya, where Buddhists believe the founder of their religion gained enlightenment.

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists said he had no comments on the visit to India of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji. Zhu's visit has been dogged by Tibetan protesters who want India's government to press for talks between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government on the status of Tibet.

Beijing has called the Dalai Lama a separatist and said there will be no talks until he says that Tibet and Taiwan are part of China.

The Dalai Lama, who had been suffering from low blood pressure and gastroenteritis, was taken in a state government helicopter to Bodhgaya, after leaving Patna, capital of eastern Bihar state.

He is to lead prayers next week at the gathering to be attended by some 10,000 Buddhists from around the world.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 with thousands of supporters following a failed uprising against China. Since then, he has headed a government-in-exile in the northern Indian town of Dharmsala. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent struggle against Chinese rule.