U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the world stands united with Tibet as she met with the Dalai Lama at his headquarters in northern India.

``The situation in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world,'' she said in the town of Dharamshala, which is home to Tibet's government-in-exile. ``We are with you to meet the challenge.''

The Dalai Lama is trying to build international pressure on China to show restraint in dealing with the biggest protests in Tibet in almost 20 years. The Nobel Peace Prize winner says he is committed to a peaceful solution and isn't seeking independence for the Himalayan territory.

Chinese officials blame supporters of the Dalai Lama for riots in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, last week. Authorities say protesters killed 13 people and damaged more than 500 homes. Tibetan exiles said security forces have killed about 100 demonstrators since the protests began March 10.

``We are here to join you in shedding the bright light of truth on what is happening in Tibet,'' said Pelosi as she met with the exiled spiritual leader. ``We are here to help the people of Tibet and will continue to meet the challenge of conscience.''

Tibet had varying degrees of autonomy from China until the Chinese Communist Party came to power in 1949. It deployed troops there a year later and annexed the region in 1951.

Discouraging Tourists

The protests are the largest in Tibet since pro- independence demonstrations in 1989 prompted President Hu Jintao, who was then head of the region's Communist Party, to declare martial law.

China's Foreign Ministry has declined to say whether the People's Liberation Army deployed additional troops to Tibet to crack down on the protests.

Chinese authorities have discouraged tourists from visiting Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu, saying the western provinces are dangerous because of rioting by pro-independence Tibetan activists.

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