University 'kow-tows on Dalai degree'

Tibetan freedom campaigners have criticised London Metropolitan University for expressing regret to China for "any unhappiness" it caused by awarding an honorary degree to the Dalai Lama in May.

Brian Roper, the university's vice-chancellor, met Chinese embassy officials last month to apologise. Today Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, president of the Tibet Society, said the university should not " kowtow to one of the most appalling regimes in the world".

A spokeswoman for the university, which has 434 students from China, said Mr Roper had not been apologised for awarding the degree and said the honour had not been withdrawn.