Clashes over Tibet lead to lockdown

BEIJING - The county of Lithang in the Tibetan autonomous region was under lockdown this week after clashes between Chinese security forces and Tibetan monks, laypeople, and nomads, according to residents.

Zhou Xiujun, owner of a grocery store, said she witnessed a small protest near the county's main vegetable market Sunday that escalated into a much larger one about lunchtime Monday.

On the second day, she said saw several hundred Tibetans gathered downtown, shouting "Long Live the Dalai Lama," the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists who lives in exile in India. In minutes, she said, police arrived and a melee ensued.

At least one Tibetan protester was swinging a stick, she said, and others were throwing stones until police subdued them. Officials confirmed the incident but would not answer questions.

The activist group Free Tibet said the protests were the largest in Tibet since violence last spring that killed at least 18 civilians and one police officer.