Dalai Lama says will miss 'dear friend' Mandela

The Dalai Lama said Friday he would miss his "dear friend" Nelson Mandela, who he hailed as "a man of courage, principle and unquestionable integrity" in a letter sent to the South African icon's family.

In a statement on his website, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said "the best tribute we can pay to him is to do whatever we can to contribute to honouring the oneness of humanity and working for peace and reconciliation as he did".