Protests by Buddhist monks in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, against Chinese rule last week worsened into the most serious social unrest to hit the Himalayan territory, which China administers as an “autonomous region”, in nearly two decades.

After sealing the city with a large military and armed police presence, Chinese authorities claim that situations have stabilised. The official death toll was 16, although Tibetan groups said scores and possibly hundreds of Tibetans had been killed.