Nepalese police detained 50 Tibetan exiles protesting Friday against China's crackdown in their homeland, a day after the United States raised concerns about Nepal's treatment of Tibetan demonstrators.
The group of 50 Tibetan exiles, many of them monks and nuns, had gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy's visa office in the heart of Katmandu and were chanting anti-China slogans.
They were stopped by police and quickly put in vans and trucks and driven to detention centers.
Police official Ramesh Thapa said they detained about 50 Tibetans but they were likely to be freed later in the evening.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement Thursday saying Washington was concerned about Nepal's treatment of Tibetan activists protesting against China's crackdown in Tibet
"The ongoing harsh treatment of peaceful protesters during their arrests by the Nepali police is distressing," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said in the statement.
The U.S. urged Nepal to ensure the humane treatment of peaceful protesters and to adhere to its international human rights obligations.
Nepal has been criticized by human rights groups for its handling of the Tibetan protests, which have been an almost daily occurrence since March.
Nepalese police initially used batons to beat protesters and even fired tear gas. However, after the criticism and pressure from rights groups, police stopped using force but have continued to detain demonstrators.
Nepalese officials say protests against friendly nations, including China, will not be allowed and Tibetan refugees are barred from all political activities.
China says 22 people died in anti-government violence in Tibet's capital of Lhasa in March, while foreign Tibet supporters say many times that number were killed in the protests and a subsequent crackdown.
