Activists: Chinese cops shot fiery monk

ABA, China, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Chinese police officers shot a Tibetan monk Friday in the Chinese city of Aba moments after the young man set himself on fire, activist groups say.

Tibetan activist groups, citing witness testimonies, claimed a monk identified only as Tapey was shot three times by police officers after he doused his clothing with oil and set himself ablaze as a protest, The Washington Post reported.

International Campaign For Tibet spokeswoman Kate Saunders said while Tapey's body was quickly removed from the scene, witnesses said the monk appeared to be dead.

The monk's fiery protest came shortly after nearly 1,000 monks were not allowed to enter the Kirti Monastery's main prayer hall.

The monks were not allowed to enter the hall and honor the traditional prayer festival of Monlam due to an order by local authorities, the Post said.

Students for a Free Tibet and the International Campaign for Tibet said most of the monks then began to conduct their prayers outside the monastery until Tapey conducted his apparently deadly protest.