Nepal arrests 300 protesting Tibetans

KATHMANDU, Nepal, March 25 (UPI) -- The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, a buffer between giants China and India, reportedly arrested about 300 Tibetan exiles protesting against China.

The arrests Monday came after the Tibetans had two demonstrations in Kathmandu against Chinese crackdown in Tibet, the Press Trust of India reported. One of the protests reportedly was near a U.N. office.

The report said at the other protest near Nepal's government offices, police wielding batons charged the demonstrators, causing injuries to about half a dozen of them. Police also arrested several human rights activists supporting the exiles.

Nepal, which is keen to maintain good relations with China, has been witnessing almost daily protests by the Tibetan refugees, the report said. Similar arrests have been made in India.

The United Nations has told the Nepal's interim government, which is preparing for the constituent assembly elections on April 10, to respect the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

Nepal's Maoist Chairman Prachanda, whose group is part of the coalition government, has supported Chinese action in Tibet, the report said.