STORY: The Dalai Lama marked his 90th birthday with supporters from around the world on Sunday, after earlier countering China's insistence that it will choose his successor.The Nobel laureate is among the world's most influential religious leaders,

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, turns 90 on Sunday after a week of celebrations by followers during which he riled China again and spoke about his hope to live beyond 130 and reincarnate after dying.

The Dalai Lama turned 90 on Sunday surrounded by thousands of followers, who thronged the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, where the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism has been living in exile since fleeing Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959.