Dalai Lama losing hope for Tibet autonomy - aide

NEW DELHI, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama has lost hope of reaching an agreement with Beijing over Tibetan autonomy under Chinese rule, but is not going into retirement, a senior aide said on Sunday.

"Because of lack of response from Chinese we have to be realistic, there is no hope", Tenzin Taklha told Reuters.

"His holiness does not want to become a hindrance to the Tibetan issue, and therefore has sent a letter to the parliament regarding what options he has".

The Tibetan spiritual leader has called for a special meeting of Tibetan exiles in the second week of November to discuss the future of the Tibetan movement.

His candour is seen as a vindication for the many exiled Tibetans who say his conciliatory "middle way" approach to seeking greater autonomy has not worked.

"I think the statement by his Holiness is an eye opener for the Tibetan people", Tsewang Rigzin, the president of the pro-independence Tibetan Youth Congress told Reuters.

"We are not against the middle way approach of his Holiness, the fact is that China is not sincere and has never been sincere in talking about the middle way".

Taklha denied speculation that the 73-year-old Dalai Lama was going into retirement.

Karma Cheophel, the speaker for the Tibetan government-in-exile, earlier said the Dalai Lama had "hinted he is now on full retirement", sparking some rumours in the local media.