Tibetan monk sets himself on fire

A Tibetan monk burned himself to death yesterday in south-west China, calling for the return of the Dalai Lama, the London-based Free Tibet organisation said.

The exiled spiritual leader is condemned by Beijing as a separatist. The monk's self-immolation could spark fresh tensions in heavily ethnic Tibetan parts of Sichuan. Another monk also set himself on fire during protests in March.

China's official Xinhua news agency reported the death of the 29-year-old monk, Tsewang Norbu, but said "it was unclear why he had burnt himself". REUTERS