Nepal police break up Tibetan protests, 20 held

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - At least 20 Tibetan protesters, including monks, were held in Nepal on Thursday as they tried to organise anti-China protests and march towards the United Nations office in the capital, witnesses said.

Riot police carrying bamboo batons and plastic shields chased and grabbed small groups of protesters and pushed them into waiting vehicles.

"Stop killings in Tibet," the protesters shouted.

The United Nations said this week it was very concerned over the excessive use of force by police against Tibetan protesters in Nepal and urged the government to uphold the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

New York-based Human Rights Watch, in a statement, asked the government not to use force against peaceful protesters.

Nepal, home to more than 20,000 exiled Tibetans since they fled Chinese rule after a failed uprising in 1959, has had almost daily pro-Tibet protests since March 10.

Nepal does not allow the exiles to organise political activities.