Four Tibetans detained in Delhi for staging protest against Wen Jiabao's visit

Four Tibetans were today detained in the national capital when they tried to march towards the Hyderabad House where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao were holding talks, claiming that the visiting leader has no right to talk about border issue.

The four protestors were stopped by police on Kasturba Gandhi Marg at around 11.30am when they were moving towards the Hyderabad House near India Gate where the two leaders were holding bilateral talks.

"Jiabao has no right to talk about the border issue. China has no border with India. The border is between Tibet and India. This is the key message of today's protest," Tenzin Norsang, one of the protestors, said.

Tibetans have been protesting against the visit of Jiabao from yesterday to highlight their demand for freedom from China.

Six Tibetans were yesterday detained as they staged a demonstration outside Taj Palace Hotel, where Jiabao is staying, while a large group of people marched through the streets in the capital to protest against his visit.

Tibetan demonstrators say their protest is to tell the visiting Chinese leader that Tibet does not belong to him and China should vacate it.

A large group of Tibetans also marched from Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, to Jantar Mantar yesterday where they held a meeting.

A seminar was also held in the capital on "Rethinking India's Sino-Tibet Policy".

"At a time when bilateral China-India relation is hitting an all-time low and there are concerted efforts from both sides to salvage the ties and strengthen relations, it is of paramount importance for both the Asian giants to address the Tibet issue which is the core issue," said Kirti Dolkar Lhamo, president of Tibetan Women's Association.

Police have stepped up security outside Chinese embassy and the hotel where Wen is staying to ensure that protests do not mar his visit.