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| Troops 'seal Tibet monasteries' | Troops 'seal Tibet monasteries' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Security forces have sealed off three monasteries in the Tibetan city of Lhasa after protests earlier this week, witnesses and a rights group said. | Security forces have sealed off three monasteries in the Tibetan city of Lhasa after protests earlier this week, witnesses and a rights group said. |
| Witnesses said police were at Drepung and Sera monasteries on Thursday. A third monastery, Ganden, was also surrounded, a US-based group said. | Witnesses said police were at Drepung and Sera monasteries on Thursday. A third monastery, Ganden, was also surrounded, a US-based group said. |
| The move follows at least two days of protests by monks against Chinese rule. | The move follows at least two days of protests by monks against Chinese rule. |
| Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that shops had been set on fire in Lhasa, amid continuing unrest. | |
| Confirming reports from Tibet is difficult because both access and the media are tightly controlled. | Confirming reports from Tibet is difficult because both access and the media are tightly controlled. |
| But rights groups say the demonstrations are the largest in Tibet in almost two decades, and have spread from Lhasa to rural areas and neighbouring provinces. | But rights groups say the demonstrations are the largest in Tibet in almost two decades, and have spread from Lhasa to rural areas and neighbouring provinces. |
| 'Three layers' | 'Three layers' |
| The protests began on Monday when Tibetans around the world marked the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule. | The protests began on Monday when Tibetans around the world marked the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule. |
| Quick guide: TibetIndia detains Tibetans | Quick guide: TibetIndia detains Tibetans |
| Unconfirmed reports then suggested that as many as 600 monks from Drepung and Sera monasteries joined peaceful rallies on Tuesday and that police used tear gas to disperse them. | Unconfirmed reports then suggested that as many as 600 monks from Drepung and Sera monasteries joined peaceful rallies on Tuesday and that police used tear gas to disperse them. |
| There are also unconfirmed reports that monks have been detained, and that monks at the Sera monastery are on hunger strike. | There are also unconfirmed reports that monks have been detained, and that monks at the Sera monastery are on hunger strike. |
| According to the US-based International Campaign for Tibet, three major monasteries in Lhasa are now "under lockdown and surrounded by troops". | According to the US-based International Campaign for Tibet, three major monasteries in Lhasa are now "under lockdown and surrounded by troops". |
| An unidentified man inside Sera monastery told the Associated Press news agency that it was "surrounded by many people". | An unidentified man inside Sera monastery told the Associated Press news agency that it was "surrounded by many people". |
| Another Lhasa resident told the agency that Drepung monastery was encircled by "three layers" of troops. | Another Lhasa resident told the agency that Drepung monastery was encircled by "three layers" of troops. |
| Two monks there were in critical condition after attempting suicide, US-based Radio Free Asia reported. | Two monks there were in critical condition after attempting suicide, US-based Radio Free Asia reported. |
| On Thursday, Chinese authorities played down the protests - which coincided with similar demonstrations in India and Nepal. | On Thursday, Chinese authorities played down the protests - which coincided with similar demonstrations in India and Nepal. |
| "In the past couple of days, a few monks in Lhasa have made some disturbances in an effort to cause unrest," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gan said. | "In the past couple of days, a few monks in Lhasa have made some disturbances in an effort to cause unrest," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gan said. |
| "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." |
| Beijing claims sovereignty over Tibet, but many Tibetans remain loyal to their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959 and currently lives in exile in India. | Beijing claims sovereignty over Tibet, but many Tibetans remain loyal to their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959 and currently lives in exile in India. |
| A surge in Tibetan activism could become a major concern for China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, correspondents say. | A surge in Tibetan activism could become a major concern for China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, correspondents say. |
| Are you in Tibet or do you know anyone currently in Tibet? Did you witness the rallies this week? Send us your comments. | Are you in Tibet or do you know anyone currently in Tibet? Did you witness the rallies this week? Send us your comments. |