JOHANNESBURG: The Dalai Lama says he is canceling his planned visit to Botswana "due to exhaustion."

A statement on the website of the Tibetan spiritual leader says he has written to the president of the southern African nation expressing "profound regret." The 82-year-old had been expected to visit on Tuesday.

China's government, which has been known to pressure countries against hosting the Dalai Lama, had warned against the Botswana visit.

The Dalai Lama's statement says he thanked Botswana's president and government "for their unwavering principled stand to welcome him to their country, despite overwhelming pressure not to do so."

The statement also says that "during the past few weeks, His Holiness has found that carrying out his activities has left him unusually tired." It says doctors have warned against long journeys.