More than 100 Tibetan exiles have begun a march from India to Tibet to protest against Chinese rule in the region.
More than 100 Tibetan exiles have begun a march from India to Tibet to protest against Chinese rule in the region.
The marchers left Dharamsala on the 49th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
The marchers left Dharamsala on the 49th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, has called for greater pressure on China over its human rights record.
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, has called for greater pressure on China over its human rights record.
In Nepal, at 1,000 Tibetan exiles have clashed with police in Kathmandu while trying to march to the Chinese embassy.
Tibet activists are hoping to use China's hosting of the Olympics to publicise their cause.
Tibet activists are hoping to use China's hosting of the Olympics to publicise their cause.
'Great impact'
'Great impact'
Before the marchers set off, the Dalai Lama said he approved of China hosting the games because it provided the world with a chance to pressurise the Beijing government to uphold the Olympic ideals of freedom of speech and equality.
Before the marchers in India set off, the Dalai Lama said he approved of China hosting the games because it provided the world with a chance to pressurise the Beijing government to uphold the Olympic ideals of freedom of speech and equality.
"China should prove herself a good host by providing these freedoms. Therefore, besides sending their athletes, the international community should remind the Chinese government of these issues," he said.
Protesters in Nepal were arrested
He added that the international community should "explore ways of investing their collective energies in producing a continuous positive change inside China even after the Olympics have come to an end".
"China should prove herself a good host by providing these freedoms. Therefore, besides sending their athletes, the international community should remind the Chinese government of these issues," the Dalai Lama said.
He also called on the international community to "explore ways of investing their collective energies in producing a continuous positive change inside China even after the Olympics have come to an end".
The Dalai Lama has previously been seen as less radical than some exiled activists, says the BBC's Chris Morris - for example no longer advocating full independence for Tibet.
The Dalai Lama has previously been seen as less radical than some exiled activists, says the BBC's Chris Morris - for example no longer advocating full independence for Tibet.
But his call for greater freedoms in the region is a demand that China will hear with increasing frequency in the Olympics year, says our correspondent.
But his call for greater freedoms in the region is a demand that China will hear with increasing frequency in the Olympics year, says our correspondent.
'Going home'
Tibetan exile groups say the march is to be one of several protest events in the run-up to the games in Beijing in August.
Tibetan exile groups say the march is to be one of several protest events in the run-up to the games in Beijing in August.
"This is a people's march," said Lobsang Yeshi, one of the co-ordinators, according to the Associated Press news agency.
"It could potentially be our biggest protest since we came into exile in 1959. We are determined to go home and nobody could stop us from doing that," Lobsang Yeshi, one of the co-ordinators said.
"It could potentially be our biggest protest since we came into exile in 1959. We are determined to go home and nobody could stop us from doing that."
Organisers say they represent tens of thousands of Tibetan exiles, and want to draw attention to what they see as Chinese suppression of Tibetan identity.
Organisers say they represent tens of thousands of Tibetan exiles, and want to draw attention to what they see as Chinese suppression of Tibetan identity.
The precise route of the march has not yet been decided, and organisers will not say exactly where or when they will attempt to cross into Tibet from India. Are you a Tibetan exile? What do you think about this story? Send us your comments using the form below:
The precise route of the march has not yet been decided, and organisers will not say exactly where or when they will attempt to cross into Tibet.
Tear gas
Meanwhile police in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, say that up to 80 protesters have been arrested.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC between 1,000 to 3,000 Tibetan exiles and their supporters gathered at a large Tibetan Buddhist shrine, including many monks and nuns.
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says that police barred the way when some protesters tried to march towards the Chinese embassy, which lies in a different suburb.
One protester said they charged them with batons and used tear gas and that the demonstrators threw stones.
Police sources later told the BBC calm had returned to the site, but admitted that monks were shouting slogans outside the police station, where scores of the demonstrators were being held.
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