48 Tibetan monks detained during demonstration

Kathmandu, Mar 17 (UNI) At least 48 Tibetans, who were protesting in front of the UN office here as part of their uprising across the globe, were detained today.

''At least 48 Tibetan refugees including five monks and a nun were arrested in a clash that ensued in front of the UN headquarters this morning'', the media quoted a Tibetan volunteer as saying.

A UN official confirmed that the police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged to disperse the crowd, local media said.

Three protestors were severely injured and were undergoing treatment at the Birendra Police Hospital in Lazimpat, a Tibetan volunteer informed through a telephone.

About a hundred Tibetan volunteers were carrying out a peaceful protest in front of the United Nations office in Kathmandu to submit a memorandum appealing the UN to urge China to stop genocide.

There were reports of demonstrations in various parts of the world since the Chinese security forces crushed the demonstration on the Tibet uprising day on March 10.

UNI XC JT MSJ RK2250