Monks interrupt Tibet media event

LHASA, China, March 27 (UPI) -- Thirty young Buddhist monks disrupted a Chinese media event at one of Lhasa's most important temples with cries for Tibetan freedom Thursday.

"We want a free Tibet," shouted one of the monks, who like several in his group were crying as they accused China of lying to visiting journalists and promised further demonstrations.

The confrontation came during a carefully choreographed visit by reporters to Jokhang Temple, one of the holiest in Tibetan Buddhism. The press was being briefed at the time by a monk who said calm had been restored after a wave of protests over the past two weeks.

Several journalists eventually were dragged away to keep them from talking with the monks, the Financial Times said.

China, preparing for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games in August, have been under pressure to allow journalists more freedom to operate.