Monks protest at China media event

A government-managed visit by foreign reporters to Tibet's capital backfired today when Buddhist monks disrupted the tour, screaming that there was no religious freedom and that the Dalai Lama was not to blame for Lhasa's recent violence.

The Chinese government had arranged the trip for the reporters to show how calm Lhasa was after the deadly riots shattered China's plans for a peaceful run-up to the Beijing Olympics.

The outburst by a group of 30 monks came as the journalists were being shown around the Jokhang Temple - one of Tibet's holiest shrines.

"Tibet is not free! Tibet is not free!" yelled one young Buddhist monk, who then started to cry.

The monks said troops who had been guarding the temple since March 14 were removed just before the reporters' visit.