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| China admits Tibet monk protests | China admits Tibet monk protests |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chinese officials have acknowledged that Buddhist monks were protesting in the Tibetan city of Lhasa this week. | |
| Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the authorities had "stabilised" the situation. | Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the authorities had "stabilised" the situation. |
| Unconfirmed reports earlier this week said as many as 600 monks had taken part in rallies, and that police used tear gas to disperse them. | |
| Rights groups said the demonstrations were the biggest display of opposition to Chinese rule in Tibet since 1989. | Rights groups said the demonstrations were the biggest display of opposition to Chinese rule in Tibet since 1989. |
| US-based Radio Free Asia reported on Tuesday that dozens of monks had been detained as the authorities sought to crack down on dissent. | |
| However, little information emerged from Tibet and the authorities remained tight-lipped until Thursday, when Mr Qin confirmed that a series of rallies had taken place. | |
| "In the past couple of days, a few monks in Lhasa have made some disturbances in an effort to cause unrest," news agency AFP quoted him as saying. | |
| "Thanks to the efforts of the local government and the democratic administration of the temples, the situation in Lhasa has been stabilised." | "Thanks to the efforts of the local government and the democratic administration of the temples, the situation in Lhasa has been stabilised." |
| Everest closure | |
| Radio Free Asia reported that a number of monks were arrested on Monday after a march marking the 49th anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. | |
| The radio station, which is funded by the US government, said hundreds of monks took to the streets the following day to demand the release of their fellow monks - and were dispersed by tear gas. | |
| India halts Tibetan march Campaigners based outside China say protesters in Lhasa are being spurred on by rallies in other Chinese provinces and in India. | |
| "Tibetans inside Tibet are aware that Tibetans in India are marching towards the Tibet border," said Matt Whitticase from the UK-based Free Tibet Campaign. | "Tibetans inside Tibet are aware that Tibetans in India are marching towards the Tibet border," said Matt Whitticase from the UK-based Free Tibet Campaign. |
| He said protesters in Lhasa had been "emboldened" by the support they were receiving from across the world. | He said protesters in Lhasa had been "emboldened" by the support they were receiving from across the world. |
| A surge in Tibetan activism could become a security headache for China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, correspondents say. | |
| This week the Chinese leadership closed the north face of Mount Everest until after the Olympic Flame ascends in May, for fear that activists might use it to stage photogenic Tibet-related protests. | |
| Beijing claims sovereignty over Tibet, which it has controlled since invading in 1950. | Beijing claims sovereignty over Tibet, which it has controlled since invading in 1950. |
| However, many Tibetans remain loyal to their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959 and currently lives in exile in India. | However, many Tibetans remain loyal to their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959 and currently lives in exile in India. |