WASHINGTON, May 26: The US Senate has adopted legislation to award a Congressional gold medal to Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, legislators said on Friday.

The award, initially bestowed on military leaders, has also been given to such diverse individuals as Sir Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.

The medal would be given to the Dalai Lama “in recognition of his advocacy of peace, tolerance, human rights, non-violence, and compassion throughout the world,” according to a bill.

Similar legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Congressional gold medals require the support of two-thirds of the members of both the Senate and House of Representatives before they can be signed by the president.—AFP