The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Cape Town, South Africa, this month has been cancelled owing to denial of a travel visa by the host country to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, a visiting Nobel laureate said here Wednesday.

"The venue of the summit has been shifted out of South Africa," Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams of the US told reporters here.

The new venue for the summit would be announced later, she said.

Williams is in this northern Indian hill town along with fellow laureate Shirin Ebadi of Iran to grace the Dalai Lama's Nobel silver jubilee anniversary celebrations scheduled for Oct 2.

"We feel proud that the summit has been cancelled after we lodged protest over denial of visa to the Dalai Lama," she said.

"Even other Nobel laureates have lodged their protest over the issue," Williams added.

Lobsang Sangay, Prime Minister of Tibetan government in exile, said the new venue of the summit would be announced later.

Ebadi even questioned Archbishop Desmond Tutu's silence on the issue. "I am surprised over the stoic silence of Desmond Tutu. I know he is not part of the government but he's not making his views public," Ebadi said.

"Let's not forget whosoever decides to stay silent against the dictator government is contributing to the dictatorship," she added.

Coming out in support of the Tibetan government-in-exile's cause, Ebadi said: "I am here to learn from His Holiness, who has been leading a non-violent struggle for over 50 years. I hope, someday, I will be talking to you in free Tibet."

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Nobel laureates summit cancelled after visa denial to Dalai Lama