NEW DELHI, March 10 (UPI) - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader is urging Chinese authorities to desist from using military force to crush restive Muslims who are demanding a separate homeland.

The dalai lama says the military crackdown against the Muslims and the Tibetan people cannot suppress the quest for freedom.

In a statement issued on the eve of Tibet's uprising day anniversary, the dalai lama said Monday: ``I will continue to counsel for non-violence, but unless the Chinese authorities forsake the brutal methods they employ, it will be difficult to prevent the situation in Tibet from deteriorating further.''

The Hindustan Times newspaper quoted the dalai lama as saying that the Chinese government should adopt a positive and constructive policy toward Tibetans and the post-Deng Xiaoping era offers an opening.

He also denounced Chinese policy that ``Buddhism must conform to socialism and not socialism to Buddhism.''

The dalai lama and more than 200,000 followers fled to India after an unsuccessful 1959 uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. Since then, a government-in-exile has been operating in northern India.