WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama said Wednesday that he would pray for "a good rebirth" for Deng Xiaoping, China's elder statesman who died in Beijing at age 92.

"I personally pray for a good rebirth for him, and I wish to offer my condolences to the members of his family," said the Buddhist Tibetan leader during an interview with the Tibetan service of Voice of America.

Deng, "was the leader of the Communist Party's totalitarian system, so .. it is inevitable that many mistakes are made, ... as the system itself dictates what to do," said the Dalai Lama who has lived in exile since the communists seized Tibet.

"However, whether it is good or bad, a chapter of history has closed", added the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama, who met Deng on a number of occasions in China, regretted that Deng did not manage to resolve the Tibetan issue.