China tear fires tear gas at monks

Beijing: Chinese security forces fired tear gas at 600 monks taking part in a second day of rare protests in Tibet, according to reports.

The demonstrations are part of global marches to mark the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule, which have also been part of a greater protest movement ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

On Monday, 300 monks defied authorities by staging a march in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, which a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman described as "an illegal activity that threatened social stability.''