KATHMANDU (AFP) — Some 500 Tibetan exiles were held Saturday by Nepal police after demonstrating outside the Chinese embassy against the Olympic torch relay's visit to Tibet.
Hand-picked spectators cheered runners as the flame passed through Tibet's capital Lhasa earlier in the day, just three months after deadly riots against China's rule in the region.
"We have rounded up over 500 Tibetan protesters. They have been driven to various detention centres," police officer Ramesh Thapa told AFP.
"All of them will be released later in the evening," he said.
Protesters, mostly women and monks, waved flags of the Tibetan government-in-exile and screamed "China liar, leave Tibet," "We want a free Tibet," and other slogans.
Riot police broke up the rally and protesters were bundled into waiting vans and trucks after a brief tussle.
Some of the protesters carried banners reading, "No human rights, no 2008 Olympic torch in Tibet."
"Tibet is not a part of China. The Chinese government doesn't have any rights to take Olympic torch in Tibet," 20-year-old Tsering, who goes by one name, said before police dragged him away.
"China should not be allowed to hold Olympic games," said Sonam, 24, another protester.
Kathmandu has seen almost daily protests since unrest erupted in Lhasa, capital of the Tibetan region, prompting a crackdown by Chinese security forces in March.
Authorities earlier this week detained over 700 Tibetan protesters from the same venue, the largest number in a single day.
The same day police also arrested three top Tibetan activists for alleged anti-China activities in Nepal.
Sandwiched between India and China, Nepal recognises Beijing's "One China" policy that sees Tibet and Taiwan as integral parts of China.
Nepalese officials have repeatedly said no anti-China activity will be allowed as they seek to preserve friendly ties with their giant northern neighbour.
Nepal is home to about 20,000 exiled Tibetans who began arriving in large numbers in 1959 after the Dalai Lama fled Tibet following a failed uprising against the Chinese.
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